That's very gracious of you to say, Elene, but the Fantaisie is relatively undemanding technically. I learned the Polonaise Op. 53 as a teenager, and I believe these two pieces are the most accessible of Chopin's big, mature works in terms of overall difficulty.

The Allegro, being a mature take on earlier ideas, still bears all the style brillant virtuosic passage work of his youthful showpieces (as a concerto movement should!). And in solo piano format, the erstwhile tuttis have all the unpianistic awkwardness that one would expect from an orchestral reduction.

It's got to be the most challenging—technically and musically—of Chopin's later, larger works. I seriously think that the sonatas and the fourth ballade would be more approachable for an amateur!

I may have mentioned already that I've picked my next etudes, but not my next "big" piece. The Allegro is not really on the table, and I'm having trouble deciding amongst the ones I consider available to me technically.

Steven

Just wanted to wish you all good luck with this, a bit late I know... It's a shame I didn't notice this thread until yesterday (didn't know you have this much fun in the ABF ), I could perhaps have helped you fill in some gaps.

Just a thought for you future recitals: If it is your intention to work through as much as possible of Chopin's pianoworks and you wish to avoid pro recitals like "ballads and scherzos", you could spread the beasts out over a few recitals. For examples Nocturnes And Ballads, then Waltzes And Scherzos. This way there would be something for everyone in each recital. And seeing how fast the nocturnes have been booked already before the recital is announced, I suspect there won't be enough nocturnes for everybody who wishes to participate anyway. And there's even fewer Waltzes...

If we are calling nocturnes I would love 72/1 if it has not already been claimed.

OK if we are calling 9/1

Who would be the one to start the official thread for the Nocturnes? Then we could make selections more official.

And again dibs for 62/2 if sotto doesn't end up with it

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/32/7321.html



Steven

The files are up ...

http://www.chopinforever.org/etudathon

Great to see everything up there .


Myself, I haven't had time to listen to every recording yet (but I definitely will don't worry!), but would like to say thanks to everyone who's put up a recording . . . it's not easy to share your own playing on the internet!

Can't wait till the next recital!

Since you made the announcement, I listened yo yours first.

Very beautiful, musical, and solid performance.

Well, there is now a 'Etudes Discussion' thread pasted to the top of ABF, so I think this thread will now come to a natural end. I have been thinking about next year. Frycek has already started a thread about the Mazurkathon planned for March 1st, Chopin's birthday; and it seems the general preference for next October is for Nocturnes, which has its own thread where I see they are already being snapped up.

I thought RogerW's suggestion for a mixed recital is a good idea to remember for the future - perhaps for the very special year of 2010, which marks the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth? But that is quite a way ahead.

In the meanwhile, thankyou so much to all the wonderful pianists who took part in this year's Etudathon, and we look forward to the next ecital on March 1st 2009.

and thank you for all the work you did on this one.

Before we sign off of this thread, bravos to everyone all around.

I started listening as soon as I could this morning. It was like getting up for Christmas presents!

Elene