Difficulty of the Chopin Concertos (specifically the f minor)

[chopinlover01]

I've been told to choose a concerto. I've already had some pre-experience with concertos, so I can manage romantic concertos at this point.
My question is, how do the concertos (the f minor in specific, I like it much better than the e minor) rank difficulty-wise with Chopin's other compositions?
Thanks all

[amytsuda]

Actually, I need to ask you a question back... how can we judge difficulty of concertos? How can we compare them with solo pieces? I mean, playing with orchestra is a completely different game? (I find doing 4-hands or accompanying others more difficult than a difficult solo piece, even the score is simple) What other concertos did you do? That's probably a better benchmarking? Anyway, I love f-minor concerto! I think there's Music Plus One orchestra recording to practice with... 

[pianist1025]

My question is, how do the concertos (the f minor in specific, I like it much better than the e minor) rank difficulty-wise with Chopin's other compositions?
Thanks all

Difficult, in a different league to most of his solo compositions. The F minor is much more difficult than it sounds and looks in many ways.

I've been told to choose a concerto. I've already had some pre-experience with concertos, so I can manage romantic concertos at this point.

What concertos have you done? Have you played any Romantic concertos before? What do you consider to be the hardest Chopin piece you've played, or by any composer, and how well can you actually play it? I hear you claim you "scared yourself" because you found the 1st Ballade so easy.

Honestly I think you should wait a while before you tackle the Chopin concertos. Choose a different one.

[chopinlover01]

For the record, I'm in a jazz band as the pianist full time (school band), so I have experience playing with other musicians. It's not the same as playing with an orchestra, granted, but it's a whole lot better than nothing.
I've played the Mozart D minor Concerto, and several romantic styled (new age) concertos.
The hardest Chopin? Probably the G minor ballade, yes. And I scared myself with it because I (for the first few years of my piano career) was told that technical difficulty was basically indescribable mysticismic movement. Nobody would tell me what exactly it was, and thus, what I thought was difficult "technically" wasnt.

[amytsuda]

Then, no need to ask our question in this forum. Download the score and find a way to print them or put it on iPad:
https://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No.2,_Op.21_%28Chopin,_Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric%29

I am a stupid old amateur, but could sight read through the whole f-minor 3 movements very slowly in about 40 minutes the very first time. So you can find out how difficult it is in 30-60 minutes 

[pianist1025]

several romantic styled (new age) concertos.

So no *actual* Romantic ones? What new age ones did you do? You're awful confident in saying that you can "manage" them even though you've never played a proper Romantic concerto.

The hardest Chopin? Probably the G minor ballade, yes. And I scared myself with it because I (for the first few years of my piano career) was told that technical difficulty was basically indescribable mysticismic movement. Nobody would tell me what exactly it was, and thus, what I thought was difficult "technically" wasnt.

Apologies if I'm being sceptical, but care to show us proof (in video recording) of even just the Ballade coda? I'm giving you the benefit of doubt on the Mozart concerto, but I'm having extreme difficulties buying your claim on the Ballade after seeing this:

Anyhow, give it a try if you must, it's just that I honestly think it's a leap too far and it would be some good time wasted.

[chopinlover01]

The video was more of a test of recording equipment than anything else. The skepticism is completely understood. I've been working on the Ballade in sections.. I'll see if I can record the coda of it and upload that for now. My setup is somewhat limited.

[chopinlover01]

Also, I forgot to say that the Ballade is only a side project for now. I'm playing other material right now (Rach G minor prelude, relearning the Military Polonaise, and relearning some easy Mozart)

[mjames]

They're going to be playing Chop's 2nd concerto next week and I've never been to a live performance of Chop's works! Hope I don't die before then. Did I just jinx myself? sh*t...

WELL CHEERS!