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Is there anyone that can answer to me : Which of the Chopin's Polonaises is the best and which one the easiest to start with?My teacher suggested me the "military" polonaise but I prefer the "N.1 Op.26".I don't know what to do.
Thank you in advance!

"Best" & "Easiest" are relative terms.

Your teacher probably knows what's appropriate for you in this situation.

As PlayLiszt said, they're relative terms. In my opinion, the Military is easier than the Op. 26, though I too prefer the Op. 26. Its not like the level of difficulty is radically different though, so ask your teacher if its out of the question to work on the Op. 26 one.

The Military Polonaise is, like Fur Elise,
one of those pieces that all students get
in the course of their instruction. Students
are typically given it as they enter the
advanced-intermediate level. This piece
has become so hackneyed, as a result, that
it should be avoided altogether. Moreover,
with much of it consisting of a repetitive
pattern, you get little out of it in the way
of technical development--this piece is wasted
effort in my opinion.

Op. 26 no. 1 looks much more sophisticated
and interesting--and more difficult.
This seems to be one of the lesser
played polonaises, so your teacher may never
have worked on it, which is why she won't let
you play it. She'd have to learn it in order
to teach it, which is difficult overtime work
with no pay.

Gyro always has an interesting, singular perspective on things.

I too enjoy Gyro's comments, although slammed sometimes for hisher views, Gyro continues to add stimulating remarks.

The Military Polonaise is very fun to play and its the only Polonaise my teacher assigned me.
It is challenging with five and six note chords in the right hand. I've been wanting to do another one, I'm gonna check out the other one you mentioned. p

I think everybody likes N.1 Op.26 better, it's so poetic.

I hated Miliitary Polonaise when my teacher assigned it to me. To my ears it's robotic , repetitive, w/o charm. But later I realized it's so much more fun playing it than listening to it. There are many basic and important techniques involved in playing this piece. The kind I can learn and master and derive satisfaction from.

For advanced-intermediate level players, it's next to impossible to play N.1 Op.26 well. I was very disappointed at my results.

I studied op. 26 no. 1 in high school, a few years ago. I was at a place where the technique wasn't terribly difficult for me, but not easy either. I spent a LOT of time on it after getting the notes down, finding it quite difficult to phrase the opening melody quite right-- the one that comes in after the initial octave and chord salvo. I also learned very much about voicing and phrasing by working in great detail on the beautiful middle section in D flat major.

I like the Op. 26 as well. This one is not as easy as it appears because of the phrasing and those opening octave chords.

Right now I'm working on his Polonaise-Fantasie, which is keeping my quite busy.

John

I actually will go as far as discouraging you from trying to play No.1 Op. 26 if you haven't even learned the Military.

Your passion for piano run the risk of being eaten away ... bit by bit by mounting disappointements .. dashed hopes and sad realizations .. until finally one gives up playing.

The "Polonaise-Fantaisie" is considered (by me too) one of the 3-4 absolute Chopin's masterworks. Artistic quality.... all of them
are great music , but the idea is to order them
from the last to the first.
The 40 n.2 is one of the easiest (by a tecnical
point of view), and I too have a great consideration of 26/1.
If you will heard some examples about how one
must NOT play these polonaise, go to
www.pianosociety.com and listen to my recordings
of them .

All best,
Sandro Bisotti