(Chopin) Sonata No.2 Op.35 1st Mvt - fingering

[yohankwon]

(Mm. 9) Agitato

I have two options for the fingering, which are 42342 or 53453, and I play very well with both.

My teacher said that if I use 53453 during my college auditions (I'm playing the whole sonata for auditions), I will be automatically rejected. She said that all of the pianists use 42342, and not 53453.

My question is...will the judges at the audition care about the fingering? and which matters more: fingering or the music itself?

I would like to know your opinions, thanks!

[j_menz]

There are more options than those two, and I don't use either of them myself.

That said, there is no such thing as a correct fingering. There may be reasons for using one over another, but ultimately it is a matter of sound and comfort.

If the adjudicators care for anything beyond that, then they are not worthy of their jobs.

[awesom_o]

42342 is the much more musical fingering.
If you played the 53453 fingering and made it sound absolutely fantastic and had no trouble with that passage, the audition panel wouldn't likely notice. Their overall impression of you is what counts in whether you are rejected or accepted.

However, 42342 is a much more classical fingering, and it is liable to produce a better-sculpted result, tonally and rhythmically, than 53453. It is therefore a safer and more sensible choice.

The art of classical fingering is subtle. If you can, get yourself a copy of Anton Kuerti's essay 'Fresh Fingers'. It explains the matter somewhat.

Some fingerings are more musically expressive than others.

[asiantraveller101]

There are more options than those two, and I don't use either of them myself.

That said, there is no such thing as a correct fingering. There may be reasons for using one over another, but ultimately it is a matter of sound and comfort.

If the adjudicators care for anything beyond that, then they are not worthy of their jobs.

I too use neither. 

[andreslr6]

You could use 11111 as well, and if the end result (the sound and music) is good then the fingering works.

The purpose of mechanics and technique is to allow you to make music, they are your physical and mental tools, so, what matters is the end result with whatever means, even if you play those 5 notes with your nose wouldn't matter, the real question is "Does it solve the music?"if it solves the music, then it works.

[maxy]

Hey! If you can pull off 53453 as cleanly as 42342, you should take the following assignment:

Chopin op. 10-2

Another option that is frequently used and quite smart :

42142

[birba]

Or 31231.