Chopin Sonata No. 2 Op. 35 (first attempt)

[furiouzpianist]

Dear all,

I will be playing the following program on March 5th:
Bach-Busoni Chaconne
Chopin Sonata No. 2
Liszt Valse Melancolique
Liszt La Lugubre Gondola I
Liszt Mephisto Waltz No. 1


here is the first time I tried to play the Sonata No. 2 through...........
I would appreciate any suggestions you have.
For me, the First movement and the Scherzo are rather awkward (compared with many Liszt works, for example.......)

anyway...

Thank you!

and Happy New Year

-TM

[birba]

That is a very very good beginning if this is the first time you've played it through.  Wow.
The first movement needs time to mature.  It sounds a bit pedantic at times.  But technically you're there.  The opening a bit broader.  The second theme you bring out very well, but I don't hear the harmony.  A little bit more there.  The big climax in the development needs way more sound.  Even if you broaden it out a bit, it doesn't matter.  But really dig into that left hand theme.  In the final bars, I can hardly hear the motive in the left hand.  The right hand is just harmony, don't bang them out.
The scherzo certainly doesn't sound like it's awkward for you!  I don't think you dropped ONE note.  Now with this technical perfection I want to hear some music.  What do YOU feel about this scherzo? (other then that it's awkward)  To me it's a diabolical dance of the witches.  those repeated octaves have to have a crescendo.  You play them all the same.  The same with the passage of the 4ths.  I think I would like to hear waves of sound.  And you can help with the pedal.  It's a little dry, in fact.  But this all depends on what YOU feel in this movement.  Think about it.
I like the first part of the funeral march very much.  It's very well sustained.  Play the embellishments (acciaccaturas, rolled chords, etc) more melodically, though.  I don't know who it was that suggested playing the march (after the interlude) with a big crescendo up to the forte, and then a very gradual diminuendo to the very end.  It's a wonderful effect.  In Europe (well, Italy at least) this funeral march is played very often by the village band at funerals.  And you get the impression with this crescendo and diminuendo, of the passing of the coffin.  You need more nuance of tone in the interlude.  I would play the repeat pp in the first part.  A little more in the left hand at times.
And the presto.  Well, so much has been said about this enigmatic piece.  I think after I heard Michelangeli play it at the vatican some time in the 80's,  I decided that only he understood what it was all about.   There were no notes.  I swear.  I've never heard such an eerie effect.  It was one wave of sound, going from ppp to mf.  And then when he hit that final chord, everyone jumped.  It really was the wind blowing over the grave.  you have to experiment with the pedal - half, butterfly, quarter, etc.  because all it is now is just an incredible technical show piece.  Sometimes it even sounded like jazz!
I remember your mephisto waltz and the 11th rhapsody.  You're a very fine pianist.  With time I  think you'll do more with this.