Piano Forum

Dear Classical Pianist:
Please forgive me for my rather direct and harsh (and somewhat bitchy-sounding) statements. I had been listening to so many 3rd party YouTubes that I just wigged out and didn't realize you were the one who had posted your own work. Although I would have tried to convey the same concepts, I would have worded it a bit differently (not to mention in the first rather than third person). I want to emphasize my first paragraph where I say that you are really a fine pianist and in hopes of redeeming myself, I'm going ould haveto offer the following:

The rubato you are taking in the opening theme (and later when it doubles in 3rds & 6ths) has the effect of killing the playful quality that it would otherwise have if played evenly and lightly.
Regarding the RH pattern in meas 9-10 (later repeated) suffers from your ritard (none indicated in my score) and your slight hesitation between the last note of 9 and the Aflat in 10 - it should drive more to that note and taper off beyond to the end of meas 10 to complete the phrase (same goes for all other instances).
Meas 23/24- what's with the rolled RH chord? - not in my score and not necessarily called for--Chopin knew what he was doing.
Meas 36 et al, the punched D is not necessary - sounds gimmicky - Chopin doubles this in the right hand which gives it enough emphasis. (this was the Horowitz thing I referred to)
Meas 38 - you might consider not punching the high G flat 8va at the end and think just the opposite - that this phrase trails off with just a touch on this 8va in preparation for the following chord patterns. Meas 44 is marked diminuendo with no forte in meas 45. Your chords in meas 44 should not be ff - save that for the end. This is just a rather melodic transition into the Sostenuto section.
Meas 47 and following is marked P tranquillo - you are playing it almost ff which is leaving you nowhere to go with this section - by the time you reach the real forte in meas 61 you are almost playing ff. Observe Chopin's markings and introduce this section gently and build to mf, f, then ff as marked. I have an indication that it seemed rushed a bit at meas 68-70 - don't remember exactly what that was about.

All of the above is really a plea for you to pay more attention to Chopin's markings and dynamics. Observe the overall structure and transitions between sections. Oh and careful on the pedaling of that final chord. Again, I apologize for the tone of my earlier post. I get worked up when I hear someone who has the technique and talent to play a piece as well as you can but seems to get a bit carried away in the interpretive and loses sight of the written page. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your work.
Gerry