Chopin Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante Op. 22 - Thomas Schwan, piano 

Just about the most perfect Chopin playing I can imagine. The kind of outwardly relaxed technique (in itself a marvel of digital independence and perfect support) that can appear almost "detached", and yet, intense control and concentration that makes everything appear to be effortless, while imparting a huge range of emotion and expression are all immediately apparent here. The descriptions I have read of Chopin's own playing indicate what must have been a similar result: maximum effect with minimal strain. Unmatched passion in the midst of an almost otherworldly restraint. As a fellow keyboard player, I find that just watching Thomas's videos is a musical and technical education in itself. Of course, it is all at the service of the composer and the music and it shows one thing I have always felt: that there is an underlying universal keyboard technique that informs great artistry, regardless of the instrument. It could apply to the harpsichord, the clavichord and the organ, or to any iteration of the piano from Cristofori through to Fazioli; the underlying technical principles: perfect hand formation /finger position, perfectly balanced support and flexibility from wrist, arm and shoulder and, from a purely musical perspective, the sublime truth that music grows out of silence. You put together all of those elements and you have perfect playing, as we can hear with this present performance. The technical and musical assurance requires vast amounts of practice; but, underlying all of this is a deep "knowing" And that is the preserve of a vanishingly small number of artists. I have striven my entire career to achieve this, and, here it is, all perfectly laid out by a master pianist..

Excellent as always, perfect rendering of all elements! Chopin would be smiling...

Perfect, sensitive Chopin. Thank you for such a precious performance.

Underrated channel, as a whole and in every part. I sense that you have been about the "real stuff" for a long time, and that the documentation is catching up. And you are young, which is to say, keep plugging. You are obviously deep enough to understand what accolades are worth, however, keep doing what you are doing, and at least from time to time give an eye to keeping body and soul together as it were. You will bring more people much joy. Cheers, ---NJ.

Keep it up.playing with the silence is the highest level of music.

Che stile! Bravissimo!!

👏👏👏 great! 👍

Many years ago I told Rafal Blechacz was a superb rare pianist. Without any doubt I can said the same of you, Thomas!. Superb renditions!!!

Brillint performance

Beautiful performance. So natural, and a pleasure to watch how you play the instrument, so elegantly. Experienced plenty of goosebumps. Bravo! 👏👏👏👏

As a Chopin aficionado myself your playing is absolutely rapturously stunningly sublime and beautiful!!!! Many thanks for your posting. It makes my heart very happy to listen while you play!!!!!

Since Claudio Arrau make the recording of this wonderful piece, nobody did it so well...and believe me, I listened to many interpreters .I guess I'm gonna change my feelings towards you, Mr. Schwan you are superb I guess your tempo it is just perfect, and tempo it's almost everything in music. I already watch all your performances in RU-vid. The Book 2 of Bach Well Tempered Clavier it's is the most deleightful thing to listen.

Really good ❤

Linda interpretação!!! Einfach glaenzend!!!