Chopin sonata performance feedback please

[catherinezng]

Could you guys provide me with some feedback on my Chopin sonata? Thanks in advance!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kVzHTkpnlt4

[le_poete_mourant]

Catherine -- it is hard to say much in detail without a higher quality audio recording, but I will try to make some general comments.  I think you're very talented, especially for your age. You definitely exceeded my expectations.  I think you've been taught well, and you have good technique. 

I think in the "Doppio movimento" section right after the introduction, you could be more deliberate at first, and build to Agitato. It feels a bit wild and untamed so far. 

I don't have measure numbers, unfortunately... I think the second time you have the sostenuto section (in the recap, after that crazy climax), you could ease into it more. It feels a bit too sudden, the change of character.  Also make more of those accents on the F's in the left hand.

Chords at the end -- more deliberate, dig in, that's the whole orchestra, you should really feel the impulses there.

Generally speaking, triplets feel a bit unsteady sometimes. 

The second thematic material, the lyrical parts, are good, but I think could sing even more.  Listen to some good opera singers! (That's what Chopin told his students to do).  Like I said, hard to tell without higher quality audio, but I think you do a good job with the dynamics overall but could exaggerate more. 


Very good work!  Keep it up -- you are very talented, and I think you are have a great potential.

[catherinezng]

Thank you   le_poete_mourant for taking the time to listen to my playing and making those critiques! I listening again with reference to the parts you mentioned and I agree 100% with all of them; I will try to fix/improve them. Couldn't have asked for a better first reply

[birba]

Yes, that was really very good.  I have the impression that you've acquired this interpretation listening to a particular rendition.  Some of your decisions sound a bit unnatural.  For example, the passage from the end of the second theme to those triplet chords.  You take an immediate accellerando which just doesn't sound right.  To my ears, at least.
The opening is good.  Make it broader, if you can.  I would begin those grace notes in the right hand, third measure, with the low f in the left hand, then the higher f with the d-flat in the right hand.  The sonority is better that way.  Some of the old pianists played the first octave in the left had at measure 5 an octave lower. It's a powerful effect.  Then SUBITO piano with a crescendo and dim. In the following 4 bars.
Now.  This rhythm in the r.h. The accent has to be on the first and third beat.  The way i'm hearing you play it, the accent is falling on the second eighth note. When the theme appears the second time, the accent does fall on the second eighth note.  But i think this comes naturally when you play it forte. You don't have to exaggerate it.  At the beginning though, the agitato feeling comes throught when you play it with the accent on the first and third beats.
In the second theme, bars 60 and 64 are not part of the theme. Those bars are like an appostrophe.
In the development, at the climax (138-), there should be three levels of sonority.  The octaves in the left hand are the most important, then the right hand, and finally the middle triplets of the left hand.  You play everything the same.  Practise slow with these three levels in mind.  And remember always the accents on the first and third beats, not on those second eighth notes.
You played the second theme beautifully in the reprise.  Remember in bar 210, don't rush.  Keep the rhythm pulsating, so that in bars 220-221 the emolie (?) are more effective.
Keep the stretto in the finale at a fixed speed.  That is, don't play around with it.  It's a  STEADY rush to those final three chords.
Good work, though.  You really get around the technical difficulties with apparent ease!

[catherinezng]

Wow birba, thank you so much. You brought up really valuable points that I had never even thought of before! I went to a masterclass recently on this piece and the maestro said the same thing about the triplets and rhythms at the beginning so I will work on that along with all the other things you suggested. I thought the layers were really interesting and definitely something to improve on. Thank you again for such an insightful and explicitly written (the measure numbers made it really easy to follow) post!