I know I like to poke fun at the Chopin worship around here, however, it is never from the 'it's without merit' attitude, just that it pains me that so much other great music gets overlooked....
So of Chopin's music, the solo piano works of the Etudes, large works ie Scherzo, Ballade, and then preludes and nocturnes are talked and talked and asked and asked about. The Mazurkas probably get a mention of 1-2 for every 40 or of the former. Sad really, I think they are his best works, each a little musical gem, small but brilliant.
So when this fabulous discussion popped up on my feed, and w/ English language support, I felt I had to share, hoping this inspires folks that normally find this fare too spicy to appreciate them for what they are. They also serve as a great starting point before going into the Mazurkas of Scriabin and later Szymanowksi (which I love love love, more than the Chopin ones but I do appreciate the set).
anyhoot. there you have it.
USSR, 1987
In this episode of "Open Piano", the renowned Russian pianist and pedagogue Vera Gornostayeva (October 1, 1929 – January 19, 2015) talks about Chopin's mazurkas and performs 7 of them.As I am such a great admirer of the old guard and in particular Heinrich Neuhaus , and VG studied under him (kids paying attention in earlier classes may recall that Gilels also studied w/ HN

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Gornostayeva