Chopin, Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 47

As I prepare this piece for Carnegie, I am working on bringing out both its narrative and romantic qualities. 

I think of the opening section I am playing in the video as a kind of dance because of the way it gives the pianist a simple but profound challenge: make the repetition of the single rhythmic figure something that invites an opportunity for variation. I discussed this idea a lot with Mr. Cosmo in my lessons.

In order to make these variations I have been focusing on shaping each of the repeats a bit differently by adjusting the harmony and the overall contour of the line, while also adjusting the dynamics and including a nice, free rubato.

I've read that if Chopin played the same piece twenty times, he would play it differently each time.  It's amazing to me how a single piece can take on a different character depending on the performer and the moment—that's the art. 

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