Chopin Showcase

No. 292 of the ongoing ITYWLTMT series of audio montages, which can be found in our archives at https://archive.org/details/pcast292

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Two major works are featured in today’s all-Chopin program: his second Piano Concerto and his sonata for cello and piano (the last of Chopin's works to be published in his lifetime.)

Chopin composed four sonatas, the others being piano sonatas. This Cello Sonata in G minor was written for and dedicated to Auguste Franchomme in 1846 - the last three movements of the sonata were first publicly performed by Franchomme and Chopin at the composer's last public concert, at the Salle Pleyel on 16 February 1848. It is one of only nine works of Chopin published during his lifetime that was written for instruments other than piano (although the piano still appears in every work he wrote).

Chopin wrote six works for piano and orchestra, including two concertos. The Piano Concerto in F minor dates from 1829. Chopin wrote the piece before he had finished his formal education, at around 20 years of age. It was first performed on 17 March 1830, in Warsaw, Poland, with the composer as soloist. It was the second of his piano concertos to be published and so was designated as "No. 2", even though it was written first. The performance I retained is from an old vinyl in my collection featuring a young Cecile Licad.

The Fantasia on Polish Airs was written in 1828 and published in Paris in 1834, with a dedication to the Mannheim virtuoso pianist Johann Peter Pixis and was first performed in Warsaw on 17th March, 1830, at a National Theatre concert that included the F minor Piano Concerto. The first theme, the air Juz Miesiac Zaszedi (The moon had set, the dogs were asleep), is a Polish folk song that was a favorite of Chopin's mother. The second theme chosen is by Karol Kurpinski, principal conductor at the Warsaw Opera and conductor of Chopin's first public concerts, and is thoroughly Polish in form and inspiration. A Kujawiak (a theme typical of the Kujawy region, to the north-west of Warsaw) "Jedzie Jasio od Torunia (Johnny Goes from Torun)" completes the work.

To complete the montage, I chose a pair of nocturnes, performed by the late great Alexis Weissenberg.

I think you will love this music too.