Just when I thought I’d heard it all, here comes Valentina to absolutely crush Chopin’s complex and difficult Fantaisie. Take a few minutes — yes, it’s just a few, compared to others’ lumbering efforts, and the tempo is actually as Chopin intended — and enjoy.
No thanks necessary; all part of the service.
I’m not sure that “virtuosa” is a real word, but it is at least feminine in intent.
That was great! I especially like that she apparently values the sound, letting that speak for her, not the showing off, as too many other pianists do. All the body over swaying, grimacing, waving arms and hands, making it about them and not the music, turns me off.
Arthur Rubenstein was a master, perhaps the master, of Chopin. Thanks to this, I’ll have to do a Chopin tour and compare the two’s interpretations. Been a while since I played Chopin; I’m going to enjoy it.
And Chopin – imagine being able to write that kind of music and play it for your friends, especially the ladies. He probably had to beat them away with a stick.
Discussion of virtuosa here: https://www.susantomes.com/blog/seeking-female-word-virtuoso
Perhaps a lot is due to modern videography methods, but she has the most expressive hands and fingers of any pianist I’ve seen on you-toob.
Take a look at her video of the Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement.
It’s sad that she allowed her career to be derailed by diving into the world of political opinion on the wrong side.
I just did and found the whole thing stunning. She uses different phrasing and tempi than most pianists who perform the sonata, and although I can’t find the word to describe it, I think her Steinway is voiced a little differently than most, and I thought the whole thing was marvelous.
She has muscular hands, with forearms like Arnold Palmer, pounding the poor Steinway without mercy, yet has perfect precision there as well as in the most delicate passages.
If she keeps it up, she may inherit Beethoven’s kiss.
Thanks for the heads up!