Chopin's tempo marks

[pauholio]

  Why do people choose to play Chopin's pieces at their own tempos? He noted the tempo markings when he wanted them changed...

[mosis]

Find me some pianists who play ANYONE's work at either the same tempo as each other, or as it is written.

Hell, find me two editions with the same tempo markings.

[faulty_damper]

Tempo markings should generally be ignored but taken into consideration.

Anyone who plays with strict adherence to tempo is doing a disservice to musical expression becuase you simply can't play something musically well that way.  These pianists are labeled "mechanical" or worse as some on this forum have described.

There are many variables that should be considered when playing something at an approximate tempo including the ideas expressed in the piece to the dryness or warmth of the piano.

[Troldhaugen]

I noticed from many recordings by famous pianists that they change the tempo where they're not even supposed to (when there is no indication on the sheet whatsoever). I don't strictly adhere to specific tempo markings, but I always try to maintain some kind of consistency in terms of overall tempo. I wonder if it is possible to arbitrarily change the tempo if one feels necessary.   

[chromatickler]

Why do people choose to play Chopin's pieces at their own tempos? He noted the tempo markings when he wanted them changed...

find me a winter wind performance exactly 2 seconds faster than Gavrilov (without intro of course).

[m]

Why do people choose to play Chopin's pieces at their own tempos? He noted the tempo markings when he wanted them changed...

find me a winter wind performance exactly 2 seconds faster than Gavrilov (without intro of course).

What's the "winter wind"? I am not sure what do you mean--is Gavrilov good, bad, or is there something wrong with his tempo? Sorry if I am slow, but I was just wondering how your message is related to tempo marking, why exactly 2 seconds are so significant, and what's wrong with the intro--is it not a music, or not a part of the piece?
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