Frédéric Chopin - Etude Op.10, No.3 - "Tristesse" - Enzo

[emill]

What "LOVE" can do ! ! !
A year ago, February 2012 Enzo played this at a recital in his school.

Several months later he met someone and this is how he played it
on January 2013 or almost a year later.  Am I imagining things?  
Any comment on the "technical" aspects is most welcome.

    (January 2013)

  (February 2012)

[pianoman53]

They are clearly very different. The newer one is, for me, much more outgoing - a la teenage love

I, personally, prefer the older one, but I know plenty of people who would prefer the newer one. So congratulate him for developing his own style, it's something very special to have!

[costicina]

May I comment on Enzo's sentimental development? I'm soooo glad that he met a girl to love.I'm sure his musical sensibility will benefit greatly from love. As this new interpretation of Chop Etude demonstrate

[emill]

They are clearly very different. The newer one is, for me, much more outgoing - a la teenage love
I, personally, prefer the older one, but I know plenty of people who would prefer the newer one. So congratulate him for developing his own style, it's something very special to have!

"love" changes everything!!!! even teenage love!!!  and you are so right, it seemed to me more people liked the 2013 rendition ....  as so many asked if my son was in love and expressing how much they liked the playing, so much more than the number who did in 2012.   The 2012 rendition seemed "more truer" to the piece.

May I comment on Enzo's sentimental development? I'm soooo glad that he met a girl to love.I'm sure his musical sensibility will benefit greatly from love. As this new interpretation of Chop Etude demonstrate

Hello Marg !!!!!
I am glad too about "love" as it has definitely enhanced and matured his feelings to some extent.  It does not seem as abstract to him now whenever his teacher explains the feeling in some pieces where it is so relevant.  One of the pieces he is practicing is Chopin's ballade No.4 and I can really feel the difference!    THANKS my friend.

[ajspiano]

There is a clear difference within the first few notes. What a wonderful development to have on record like this.

Maybe we'll see some composition sooner or later? 

[rachfan]

Hi Emill,

Well, yes, I too hear a distinct difference in the 2013 rendition of the etude.  It's definitely more expressive than the 2012 version.  One might surmise that Enzo's approach to pianism has not only improved over the past year, but it is more polished and expressive. Or, it's true to say too that fine pianists seldom play a piece exactly the same way twice. But far more importantly, there is nothing quite like love which infuses more poetry and feeling into a performance.  I actually prefer this more recent performance to the older one.  In the romantic repertoire, revealing the emotional content of the music is the most important element of performance.  Projecting this to an audience is not a matter of technique; rather, because it's about love, it comes straight from the heart.

David

[emill]

There is a clear difference within the first few notes. What a wonderful development to have on record like this.   Maybe we'll see some composition sooner or later?   

Hi!   THANKS!!!   We try our best to record what we can for later in life this will be fond memories of "when we still had him" .... for surely soon he will be on his own and later with a family.

How I wish he will delve into that area of composing .... and what better motivation than "love".  Although I know he has done a little composing and has written down a 3 movement "something", he has adamantly refused to play or share it ... he imposes such strict standards on himself.

Time is against him now as his "soon to be teacher" this coming September has asked him to prepare a TSUNAMI of pieces, one of which is a concerto for a school piano competition this October. He has been to it about 6 hours a day since early May.  I pity him as he will have barely adjusted to the new school, new country and new culture. 

THANKS for the comment and best wishes!!!

[emill]

Hi Emill,
X.x.x.x.x.x... But far more importantly, there is nothing quite like love which infuses more poetry and feeling into a performance.  I actually prefer this more recent performance to the older one.  In the romantic repertoire, revealing the emotional content of the music is the most important element of performance.  Projecting this to an audience is not a matter of technique; rather, because it's about love, it comes straight from the heart.   David   

Hi David,
I am very sure Enzo will be so motivated when he reads your observation ....  yes he has been maturing very well as a young pianist but with "love" in the air it has changed his outlook. 

I did not realize that "revealing the emotional content of the music is the most important element of performance" in the romantic repertoire.  I always thought that the expressiveness was limited or controlled to a great extent by the composer in the piece he wrote. I was running through several renditions of the piece and yes I could see your observation well borne out.  Every pianist had his unique way of expressing the romance in the piece.

Thanks David!!!   and best wishes.

[ajspiano]

he has adamantly refused to play or share it ... he imposes such strict standards on himself.

Sharing ones own compositions can be very personal, and as the writer its easy to assume that the outside world will have as critical an ear as you do yourself.

Perhaps the advantage of love may be that something will be created that is not for enzo himself, but rather for another and in turn intended to be heard. Time will tell of course.