Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Frederic Chopin was a composer-pianist who was very influenced by the culture of singing, especially 19th-century Bel Canto. Opera was of great importance in Chopin's compositions and playing of his works. Many elements of Chopin's pianism, such as his rubato, legato, tone, phrasing, use of pedals, ornamentations, dynamics, hand-arm-shoulder movements and spontaneity, are directly related to opera. All Chopin students mention Chopin's insistence on this issue. All the great composers who were Chopin's peers also mention Chopin's opera influence in his piano playing.
The comparison here is a hypothetical concept. The main purpose is to hear the song in Chopin's music and Chopin's pianism. All Chopin's techniques are related to vocal techniques. The pianists I prefer here are the pianists who worked with Chopin's students, except Paderewski.
00:00 Sigrid Onégin - Impromptu in A flat
04:21 Alfred Cortot - Impromptu in A flat
08:06 Enzo Leliva - Nocturne Op. 55, No. 1
11:13 Alfred Cortot - Nocturne Op. 55, No. 1
15:43 Claudia Muzio - Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2
20:01 Raoul Koczalski - Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2
24:28 Elena Katulskaya - Mazurka Op. 68, No. 2
27:02 Raoul Koczalski - Mazurka Op. 68, No. 2
29:12 Marcella Sembrich - Mazurka Op. 33, No. 2
31:02 Moriz Rosenthal - Mazurka Op. 33, No. 2
33:34 Antonina Nezhdanova - "Mädchens Wunsch"
35:13 Moriz Rosenthal - "Mädchens Wunsch" (Arr. Liszt)
39:54 Junusz Poplawski - "Moja Pieszczotka"
42:18 Aleksander Michałowski - "Moja Pieszczotka" (Arr. Liszt)
46:29 Amelita Galli-Gurci - Waltz Op. 64, No. 1
49:14 Vladimir de Pachmann - Waltz Op. 64 No. 1
51:21 Beniamino Gigli - Etude No. 3, Op. 10
53:28 Ignacy Jan Paderewski - Etude No. 3, Op. 10
Frederic Chopin was a composer-pianist who was very influenced by the culture of singing, especially 19th-century Bel Canto. Opera was of great importance in Chopin's compositions and playing of his works. Many elements of Chopin's pianism, such as his rubato, legato, tone, phrasing, use of pedals, ornamentations, dynamics, hand-arm-shoulder movements and spontaneity, are directly related to opera. All Chopin students mention Chopin's insistence on this issue. All the great composers who were Chopin's peers also mention Chopin's opera influence in his piano playing.
The comparison here is a hypothetical concept. The main purpose is to hear the song in Chopin's music and Chopin's pianism. All Chopin's techniques are related to vocal techniques. The pianists I prefer here are the pianists who worked with Chopin's students, except Paderewski.
00:00 Sigrid Onégin - Impromptu in A flat
04:21 Alfred Cortot - Impromptu in A flat
08:06 Enzo Leliva - Nocturne Op. 55, No. 1
11:13 Alfred Cortot - Nocturne Op. 55, No. 1
15:43 Claudia Muzio - Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2
20:01 Raoul Koczalski - Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2
24:28 Elena Katulskaya - Mazurka Op. 68, No. 2
27:02 Raoul Koczalski - Mazurka Op. 68, No. 2
29:12 Marcella Sembrich - Mazurka Op. 33, No. 2
31:02 Moriz Rosenthal - Mazurka Op. 33, No. 2
33:34 Antonina Nezhdanova - "Mädchens Wunsch"
35:13 Moriz Rosenthal - "Mädchens Wunsch" (Arr. Liszt)
39:54 Junusz Poplawski - "Moja Pieszczotka"
42:18 Aleksander Michałowski - "Moja Pieszczotka" (Arr. Liszt)
46:29 Amelita Galli-Gurci - Waltz Op. 64, No. 1
49:14 Vladimir de Pachmann - Waltz Op. 64 No. 1
51:21 Beniamino Gigli - Etude No. 3, Op. 10
53:28 Ignacy Jan Paderewski - Etude No. 3, Op. 10
