Chopin Ballade No 3

[arielpiano]

Took quite a bit of work before my teacher thought this Ballade was ready to perform in public. Here is its first public performance, two weeks ago:

What do you guys think?

[pianisten1989]

Hi ariel

Great playing, as usual.
Just a few minor things I would do different, so I'll try to add some new thoughts

In the beginning, you either play the bass-line or the top voice. Have you tried to play them both? I see it as 2 melodies (ofc the bass-line is more important, but you the right hand disappeared too much, imo). Maybe your teacher said something different?

And then the broken octaves (the new theme). When the left hand came in, I thought it was too loud. Either play the right hand a tiny bit louder, so the left hand wont be too loud. Or, the hard way,  try to make the left hand less loud.

And final: More brillante in the arpeggio in the coda. Now you lose the highest notes.


But as I said, great as usual

[birba]

Despite the very poor audio, I liked your interpretation very much.  One of your few that reveal your physical age, I feel.  One could quibble about over-pedaling and lack of dynamic contrasts, but it's fresh, sincere, and full of enthusiasm, and I liked it very much.  I think you also have a great teacher who doesn't force a pre-conceived interpretation  on the music, but lets you reveal your own thoughts.  Bravi, tutto e due!

[lostinidlewonder]

Practice playing in larger halls more often, the acoustics of it is much different when you practice playing in a smaller room at home. It use to help for me to listen to people play the piano while I sit somewhere in the audience, it made me aware of what the piano sounded like in the larger room. Admirable playing keep up your fantastic work.

[arielpiano]

Thanks for the great comments, guys. I realize that my playing is generally on the "flat" side and a bit too restrained. Maybe because I do a lot of chamber music. I have another recording of the Ballade, done a few days later, which is more "colorful" but it has other problems, so I thought this was a better performance after all.
It is true, my teacher never imposes any interpretation on me -- as long as I remain in style. All the choices are mine, including the tempo, which was probably a bit too slow, wouldn't you say?

[lluiscl]

Chopin is not Liszt... please not faster... More poetic, lirical, trying differents colors according sections... until the full climax in the last page. The Chopin ballades need an absolute maturity pianist... Bravo in your youth!!

[scottmcc]

ariel, you've again done a very nice job with a very challenging piece of music!  this is a piece that you will hopefully revisit throughout your career, each time discovering a little nuance of which you were unaware on the previous reading.  keep working, and be sure to show us the remainder of the ballades at some point once you've learned them--clearly you have a great talent for chopin, something of which I am intensely jealous:  for some reason my fingers just can't seem to wrap themselves around his writing very well.  alas.

keep practicing, and above all keep listening to yourself critically so that you continue to improve!

[arielpiano]

I know you guys are right. Problem is, I never feel 100% on sure ground wih Chopin. I am always more comfortable with Schumann. I understand him better and know more what it's about. Working on the Viennese Carnival. Wish me luck...