All three are sublime - Bravo - you hit that area somewhere between 'elevated' and 'earthy' that is, for me, is the very heart of Chopin. What great performances! Again.
Your knowledge is only exceeded by your interpretation which is proven by your powerful yet graceful execution. Our hearts skip a beat while we listen to your unique and very personal interpretation. Thank you for all you do. It is a wonder to have heard you and to hear from you.
Lovely! A nice balance between lyric-poetic and rhythmic elements in these pieces...I love the way you made the first one, especially, sound so Polish! I liked your rubato and subtle shadings in the LH, and how you made them sparkle and dance, giving these familiar pieces an invigorating freshness!
@chrismontis The manuscript clearly shows the rhythm of mazurka! Either Editors or Chopin himself changed this pattern in later editions, but original composer's intention is pretty clear to me. I don't see much danger here ;) Though these 3 waltzes published under Op. 70, they are not a "set"... it just happened that they were "assembled" this way as posthumous opus. As for f/As - I really don't care - "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet ".
Hi Truecrypt, I'd like to state that I feel truly blessed to have found you. Your performances do not merely possess incredible technique, but also the musicality that I feel has been lost since the death of the last romantic. I am shocked to learn that you are not a world wide famous pianist! What a strange world we live in today! I truly wish for your health, prosperity and happiness to continue multiplying.
@chrismontis There is a clear indication of mazurka rhythm pattern in Chopin's manuscript. In later editions it was "smoothed down" to more savorless variant, but I like rather sharp contrast between mazurka-like dance and actual waltz in the middle. As for Op. 70, No. 2 - f-moll or As-dur... Some consider it F-minor, others A-flat major. IMSLP labels it as A-flat/F, Pianopedia - A-flat major... I give up! ;)
the 2nd Waltz (which I once played, badly) reminds me of a little theory I have, that F minor is for Chopin what C minor is for Beethoven. There is something aristocratic and rarefied about this key, in which so many of Chopin's most beautiful compositions are written. And the parallel Major key, A flat, is also a big favourite of his
Hi Truecrypt,...I listened again to the first one,.. very nice.....totally agree with you that a little freedom is allowable....this type of freedom was part and parcel of the great golden era pianists......those that did it with taste are admired for it today...... You also do it here with great taste....I noticed you lengthened the first quaver of the second beat and shortened the next...none of my editions actually show this,.....
@chrismontis And what is "the waltz form"? ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three? ;) Preludes Op. 28 were written during the same period too.... Should we perform them as "salon pieces" composed within that time frame"? I'm afraid your idea of Chopin's style is somewhat simplistic...
I heard a lot of interpretations and can say this one here is far from being boring and far from being out of chopins style. The treatment as a mazurka was often also an idea Cortot used. What is important elegance and intelligence is absolutely present here....
Dear Truecrypt, I don't think the middle one comes across like a Mazurka here... I agree about Polish flavour being in the background of most of Chopin,even when written in the French,Viennese or Italian style.You played the middle one with a nice Polish feel,but it does not come across overtly like a Mazurka......to do that,it would have the instantly recognisable Mazurka syncopation,wouldn't it? Very nice playing ,thank you!
@truecrypt if you listen to Cortots lectures you can find also this idea of seeing some parts of the valses as Mazurkas. Never heard this 70/1 so convincing.... So you are right to choose these liberites; Chopin himself did a lot of liberties on these valses as he changed often version.... as Chopins way of interpretation was still very alive in Paris and transmitted by generations I think Cortot got some good ideas specially on these valses. For me you are absolutely " in style"....
In the Henle edition, both versions of 70 no. 1 (autograph and Fontana version) are printed... however it seems that some of the later ornaments are missing in this autograph? Anyway, your rendering of the "Valzurek" is charming! ;-)
You are a truly gifted pianist. It sounds like you were Russian trained, thank Heavens. I have been a devotee of your channel for years. I think you're the only other person I have met who is more obsessed about piano, and the Russian School, than I am. [Now watch. I bet the owner of this channel is someone like Dmitri Bashkirov or Boris Petrushansky and I will look like a total idiota. HA!]
@flugelmaniac You're correct - there is no trace of mazurka in No. 2 but argument was about first waltz (Op. 70, No. 1). I do play entrance and coda there with kind of mazurka flair and feel it can be done so. Whether it was true Chopin intention or not - who knows... Life would be too boring if we knew all answers! Well... I deserve a little freedom of expression too. I'm sure Chopin would forgive me if I was wrong! ;)
Большое спасибо за замечательное исполнение, мазурочно-солнечно искристое и акварельное, очень непосредственное без всякой аффектации (чем, порой, страдают исполнители Шопена) СПАСИБО за удовольствие
The way you take liberties with the pieces is very delightful, and this is what matters, I think. Taking liberties might be "dangerous" for those who're not gifted with a splendid musical taste and intention, unlike you.
Awesome playing - so intense. I remember a story Harold Schoenberg "invented", he said he (Harold) had wondered why Chopin did not publish this waltz and had reached the conclusion, that Chopin sat night after night in Wiener-etablissements and wondered why the Wieners applaused these simple waltzes so much (there are traces of that attitude in some correspondence). So he became a little annoyed and thought of making a parody - ländler plus sugar - and realized it wasn't that bad - liked it :)
Beautiful and interesting playing as well. I have a great respect for this guy, he is a living proof of of excelent (probably older) Russian piano teaching. I am just puzzled why he didn´t (?) make any recordings - I would by them all!
