Chopin vs Rubinstein

[tobiwan]

Hi.
What is the difference between Chopin and Rubinstein?
Is Rubinstein a good example of how Chopin played in the past? Or is there much difference between them? It's not only about Rubinstein, but Horowitz, Lisitsa etc..

[outin]

Hi.
What is the difference between Chopin and Rubinstein?
Is Rubinstein a good example of how Chopin played in the past? Or is there much difference between them? It's not only about Rubinstein, but Horowitz, Lisitsa etc..

I'd love to know exactly how Anton played, but unfortunately no recordings exist afaik. The other Rubinstein is a waste of time... at least when it comes to Chopin...

[themeandvariation]

Ever played the game 'operator'?  The outcome is similar.


"Etymology. As the game is popular among children worldwide, it is also known under various other names depending on locality, such as Russian scandal, whisper down the lane, broken telephone, operator, grapevine, gossip, don't drink the milk, secret message, the messenger game, and pass the message among others."

[georgey]

Hi.
What is the difference between Chopin and Rubinstein?
Is Rubinstein a good example of how Chopin played in the past? Or is there much difference between them? It's not only about Rubinstein, but Horowitz, Lisitsa etc..

Here is what I am guessing you are asking here.  I ad-lib a little in the 2nd paragraph.  I apologize if this is not what you wanted to know.

What is the difference between how Chopin played the piano compared to how Arthur Rubinstein played?  Is Arthur Rubinstein a good example of how Chopin played in the past? Or is there much difference between them? It's not only about Rubinstein, but Horowitz, Lisitsa etc.  

Which recorded pianist best matches how Chopin played?  I understand there are no recordings of how Chopin played.  I just want to hear a performance that is as close to how Chopin played as possible.  Please explain your answers.  Thank you.

[tobiwan]

I mean, is it possible to play chopin pieces much differentely? Would we hear a big difference in Chopin's playing if he lived?

[dogperson]

I mean, is it possible to play chopin pieces much differentely? Would we hear a big difference in Chopin's playing if he lived?

Tobiwan,
We only have glimpses of how Chopin played from notes from his students, his contemporaries and the critics.  You might find this book very interesting: Chopin, Pianist and teacher as seen through the eyes of his  students.  I would suspect that his  playing would be changed, if for no other reason than pianos have changed.  No one can answer that definitely

As an experiment,  take a few pieces of Chopin and listen to how each of the great pianists in your first post play them. Each of them played them as they believe they should be interpreted based on the composition, but each is different. 

[mjames]

What Chopin sounded like? Okay, listen to early 20th century Parisian/French pianists of Chopin's pedagogic lineage (Chopin's students' students) and compare notes. For example Risler's and Cortot's, the students of Emile Decombes (Chopin's student), styles are worlds apart from each other. That should tell you something.

That some Polish prodigy trained in Germany is the closest to "Chopin" or representative of how Chopin played is bollocks, that's just what people say when someone plays Chopin exactly the way they think he should be played. You can even compare the styles of early and late Rubinstein, two completely different pianists and yet they're both the "real Chopin."

If you have any modicum of talent you will inevitably develop your own style, yes your teacher's philosophy and ideas will guide but you will eventually grow independent of him. I bet you the students that played exactly the way Chopin wanted them to, weren't talented enough to become concert pianists.

[dogperson]

Mjames
 You are correct about Chopin’s perception of students who copied him:  One of his better students listened  to chopin play and copied the interpretation that he heard.  He was quite proud of himself, but Chopin was not proud nor happy

[visitor]

[outin]

Mjames
 You are correct about Chopin’s perception of students who copied him:  One of his better students listened  to chopin play and copied the interpretation that he heard.  He was quite proud of himself, but Chopin was not proud nor happy

Then again...Chopin himself might not have been the most objective judge of his own playing either. Remember, he could never hear himself recorded. He was also a guy with some "attitude" and rather proud so what he said to his students must be put into the context...

We must also remember that part of the attraction of his playing among the audiences of his time could have been that he had a novel style and focused less on virtuosity and volume and more on "beauty" in his playing. Also people had no chance to hear recordings of high quality pianists, so much of the piano music heard was amateurs in a home setting. It's impossible for us to imagine how it would be to hear Chopin play his music after only ever hearing music that came before him. Our brain/ear history is so different. So I would not be surprised if many were greatly disappointed if they were actually transported back to those times and actually hear him play...or he came back...better to let the dead rest...

[mrcreosote]

Cortot - you haven't done your homework until you've investigated this guy.

Cortot studied with a Chopin pupil, Emile Decombes.