Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Comparing performances of Chopin's C# minor Waltz, Op. 64

Today, I decided to survey a handful of performances on You Tube and comment on them. I'm sure there are diverse opinions worth sharing.

http://arioso7.wordpress.com/2011/0...pins-waltz-in-c-minor-op-64-no-2-videos/

You may be interested to know that a writer/composer in Colorado, Mark Arnest (whom some of us know through the amateur competition), did a fairly formal study of about 90 (ninety!) performances!

Let's see if it seems to be online....

No!

So it looks like yours may be the definitive online study.
Amazing how differently everything in it can be played, isn't it....including that our own taste about it may fluctuate. What seems "too slow and somber" (as you said about Kissin) on one day might feel just right on another....

I agree, Mark. I guess after I reviewed all 4 performances and re-reviewed I enjoyed the spirit of some over others.
And taste, personal preference always factor, in as you say.
Additionally, where Kissin, for example may interpret in a slower tempo in this Waltz, again subjective, he might play faster in another, by comparison to the artists showcased.

Art Tatum, jazz musician, did his own rendition of the Chopin Waltz, which was definitely ear catching. Horowitz is quoted as saying, if Tatum took up classical piano, he would quit the next day.

I would too............

This was a major stretch for me to learn a couple of years ago, and I listened to dozens of different performers to help along the way. What I love about Chopin, is it's hard to get sick of him. I practiced this piece every day for close to a year, and I still enjoy playing it!

I love Rubenstein's performance the most. He does something to mute those appoggiatura (I think that's what they're called...those slurred chords that come up over 8 measures in section A), that I'm never going to be able to figure out. The effect is so soft and lovely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlACMP2wlDk&feature=related

So Cyprien Katsaris was playing it straight, and beautifully, until the wind down... (What was the reason fo the extra note insertions. or counter melody?)
I was comparing this to your you tube segment.

Wish he had finished as he started.. Lovely phrasing.. and the Db section ..lingered and savored. Wonderful playing...He didn't especially take off on the 16ths at first.. but then let them go.

I think you mean the suspensions.. or the tied over notes...Yes he did them so well.

Ashkenazy's version is my favorite, simple, elegant, straight-forward. Chopin shined.
Kissin's version too ponderous. Yuja Wang manipulated every key, phrase, tempo, line that her fingers played, so much so that it was plain tiring. Chopin was lost.
Nice thread.

Very well said, and described in nice pinpointed detail.

Here is Art Tatum's interpretation of the Waltz. Sound quality is poor, but I am grateful that a recording even exists.

If you don't appreciate Tatum in general, you probably won't appreciate what he does with the piece. Especially if you are one of those "by-the-book, to-the-note" people when it comes to most classical music.

I had actually posted that video in my blog as the last one...that's why I had mentioned it.. Jazz has its own attraction and that's why I included it.