>> Composer

Chopin, Fryderyk (Franciszek)

>> B & D

Born: 1810 in Zelazowa Wola

Died: 1849 in Paris

>> Title of work

Ballade no.1 in g minor, op.23

>> Dedicatee

Monsieur le Baron de Stockhausen

>> Programme notes:

Please click HERE to view it, unedited from my archives.

(I wrote this programme notes quite some time ago for my LRSM Diploma examination. All rights reserved. Music students please note the definition and consequences of plagiarism.)

>> Recommended performances

1.           Most of Artur Rubinstein’s performances of this work (issued by RCA Victor): Clear and musical. Although earlier recordings show technical inadequacy, Rubinstein revolutionized the way of playing Chopin.

2.           Krystian Zimmerman (1987, DGG): Technically perfect for this Warsaw Chopin Competition winner. One of the finest pianists in terms of touch and tone in the younger generation.

3.           Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (Live Chopin recital in Torino, 1963): This pianist produced the finest tones in history. Structurally speaking this one is more often recommended than the studio recording by DGG, though the latter has unbeatable sound quality.

4.            Maurizio Pollini (two different recordings by DGG and EMI classics): Probably the greatest living pianist today. All his recordings are “standard”. Lucid and flowing style. None of the strangeness found in some pianists

5.            Bolet (Decca): Much was said about his Liszt playing. However, his Rachmaninov and Chopin were as good. His Baldwin concert grand gives very firm tone. His playing is heavy but expressive. Listen for the Baldwin sound!

>> Revolting performances

1.           Horowitz (Pioneer Artists video, Horowitz in London): This one is revolting. Techinically insecure! People might be surprised to hear me say that, but your technique is not secure if you give us a lot of wrong notes.  And his abominable bangning of the keyboard displayed its worst here. He banged, and unfortunately, banged wrongly! How ugly, the sense of structure is even more personal than that of Michelangeli. The performance does not seem structured.

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