Chopin Fantasy f minor Op 49. Valentina Lisitsa

[25joao2007]

Even your bare feet are more elegant than any super expensive shoe… you are a gracious most talented humble pianist of all times. I am proud of you darling. God bless you!

[arrakisus]

I have just discovered that you're coming to Denver soon! After having not been to the symphony for several years, I think I'll go. Thank you so much for the Youtube clips.

[Ghorgeu]

Hi, Valentina.. I had the delight of hearing you play this piece in Buenos Aires, at the Colon Theatre. You've captured all the emotions of this piece and delivered it from your heart to your fingers which beautifully set every emotion free, for us to enjoy it, for us to taste it, for us to feel it and to breathe it in the air...That was so intense...When are you coming back to Argentina? I hope you’ll do it soon. I'm looking forward to hearing you play live again. Best wishes, Georgeu.

[cardcuts96]

valentina i've a small question... i literally suck to play thirds legato. can you please give me a hint to get it right??

[ValentinaLisitsa]

Starting today - for 4 weeks only , DVD+CD gift set Chopin Recital ( including Fantasy and much more) is on Amazon.com. Once they gone - they are gone :-)

Search "Lisitsa Chopin" on Amazon and you will find it :) Not available anywhere else...



[Waldstein65]

@ValentinaLisitsa

Thank you, your order has been placed. Hope to meet you in Germany. Andi

[waloa]

I had the honor of hearing this LIVE on Buenos Aires (it was my honeymoon! :D) and was even more breathtaking. I hope that you upload the Rondeau Fantastique that you perform, better than anything else on youtube

Kind Regards from Chile

PS: could you ever do Bach's Italian Concerto? I would love if your fingers could bless us all with that piece

[ocsound1]

I'm not sure this isn't tough technically, I watched a very solid pianist struggle with passages in this piece over and over. He played Gaspard De La Nuit quite well and Rachmaninov's 2nd concerto. I think the Fantasy definitely has some technical challenges. And most certainly the musical ones, she does a very sweet and interesting job on this journey

[UnidentifiedChaos]

love your interpretation and the comment you wrote about the song! :)

[KEVINFERN0]

Amazing, as always. The description is also very well done. Cheers!

[CrazyPianoAlice]

@ValentinaLisitsa Your music is wonderful emotional, expressive ... just impressive.

I also play this piece and I think it's very difficult to play it the whole time with a lot of feeling and to fuse all your thoughts on this piece. If you don't do, nobody will believe you...

Greetings

Alica

One question, do you know Valentina Igoshina personally? I think she is a good pianist, but her playing is not nearly so good like yours :)

[benoitdrums1996]

Its just amazing , how could you memorized all those notes :O

[ThrowMeAPillow]

something about the triumphal moment beginning at 5:20...

one of the most moving pieces of all!

[JulieT026]

Thank you for your generosity in letting us into your world when you play via YouTube and for graciously sharing your knowledge. Thank you for being so very authentic. (Plus, needless to say, you are incredible!)

[hymntonight]

Very good, heartfelt interpretation! And I think it's worth mentioning that the cameraman and the recording engineers have done a phenomenal job, too!

[soulechene]

tout est magnifique dans la façon dont vous mettez littéralement en scène vos mains sur le clavier, la musique est extraordinaire, une très belle oeuvre de Chopin, mais vous l'habillez d'un prestige inégalable, celui de votre présence et votre talent. Tout est beau dans cette séquence, à commencer par l'interprète. Bravo une fois de plus.

[develish16]

hehe Valentina are u barefoot lol... just love how ur natural

[phileokai]

One of my favorite pieces.

[PianoLvsPaul]

@nineandahalffor88 wow, you really took her comment the wrong way. compared to most of chopin pieces, it certainley is less difficult technically then others, concert pianist or not

[jrfitz88]

I love the way your fingers slide on the keys.

You must live for that feeling :)

[Darklingv20]

My favorite performance of my favorite piece. Brava!

[rarescores]

speechless. just amazingly superb!!!!!

[Johannesbaerli]

Sometimes i aske to myself, wherefore i am onto the world.

When i hear those music, i know why - to hear this music.

Thank you!

[crazyunicorn20]

I admire your technique which is flawless, but i prefer Zimerman's aspect on the piece.

[capilotade]

just amazing

[Scampdude]

Hello,

I was just wondering how long it takes you to learn a piece like this. I have been learning this piece along with two others for a year and it is still not quite finished. I imagine as a concert pianist you must have many pieces to learn at one time and I was just wondering how you managed.

Love to you :)

[123mazeppa]

Hi Valentina. I really love every Liszt and Chopin performance you've displayed

here. Your interpretations are greatly beautiful and fully displays the romantic character and meaning of the music itself. Thus, I can say that I'm a fan of your performance (as well as Cziffra's) here in youtube.

I have a request and I'd fully appreciate it if you could do this.

I'd love to see your performance of Liszt's Erlkonig. If you

could upload your performance of the piece, then you're my hero!! lol

[MichaelJLgs19p]

Thank you so much. The music is so beautiful. Btw I love the barefeet haha, I just got back from a barefoot run myself a little while ago

[sebastianrc]

3:10

[AcePro]

This piece of music is indescribably beautiful. It's as if I'm surfing the stars.

[d1agos]

ma non ha le scarpe??

[desp2007]

Hi Valentina,

I am only new to, if I may say so, Western Classical Music - baby steps.

I loved your Liszt recordings and have started with Chopin now. The passage you have written down in the "description" section is very very good (though not as good as the music itself is played).

Thanks for all the music you have made live here.

Thanks!

[kejana81]

Dear Valentina,

I have been playing the piano for almost 20 years and must say, that you have been a greater teacher to me, than all the piano teachers I ever had. And I must thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. I started learning Chopin’s Ballade n2 a year ago, and since I found out that you’ve made a recording of this masterpiece, I’ve been checking on daily basis YT hoping, that you will finally upload it. No luck so far! So...is there a chance you might do so quite soon?

Jana

[woodlawn4623]

i am stunned! i went to amazon to buy your videos. Sold out! Not surprised. I don't know how I was unaware of you until today.  but now that i know i want to see you perform in person! Love your channel! YOU ARE THE BEST!

[omguanyin]

its amazing when a piano star like dear valentina bother replying youtube comments. if it happens to be evgenny kissin, he would be, 'blehhh, fk internet'

[jp1110107]

Powerful performance, Valentina. I also enjoyed reading your commentary about Chopin and the historical context which motivated him to compose the piece. I must read more about that period of European history. 

[ThoughtsByZach]

I absolutely adore this piece. I am a performance student at the University of Regina in Canada, and I am wondering if you, Valentina, have any suggestions for some Undergraduate Chopin of Liszt pieces for a fellow Ukrainian! Once again, you amaze me:)

[pagitato]

Bravo! How long must we wait before you record the Ballades and Scherzi?

[IgnotusPerIgnotium]

It's really cool, the comments that you make under some pieces, I like to learn interesting stuff about the composer's life or about the piece itself! Thanks V!

[mk27mod0]

Ma'am, your music blew me completely away, out the door and down the street and into the next county. thank you so very much.

Bill

[keetner]

Wow I love the snippets of history you give on some of your videos...they're very interesting to read :)

[fredericfranc]

When I saw she is working the pedals with her bare feet I said something like :"JEZUSIE CHRYSTUSIE NAZARENSKI, MATKO PRZENAJSWIETRZA OSTROBRAMSKA". In Polish, you are going to cuss like that. My mother used to cuss like that. In the historical intro up there connecting this composition to the 1830 uprising, this is a terrible idea, for all sorts of reasons, this composition is too good to deserve such foolishness.

[debrucey]

@fredericfranc Err... what?

[HelenusGreekus]

Валентина, чи будете ви колись у Києві?? Як же хочеться побачити ваш виступ вживу!

[nineandahalffor88]

Classicala...the true value of a person is their character...not their accomplishments. People who are great in their abilities and exude pride, arrogance or conceit therewith, are still slugs under a rock. Your view on this is evident that you weigh a person's worth based on their accomplishments and character doesn't matter. Do you evaluate people like this if beautiful or ugly too? Character, my friend, is first, the rest doesn't matter much. Try to be objective...I think you're just in love

[belegSJ]

@nineandahalffor88 I'm not really sure what you're after, but I sense you have something against Valentina's character. Why on earth!? Go ahead and watch the available interviews on YouTube (if my memory serves me there are 5 of them) and then come and tell me there's some "egomaniac peeking through her". For me the main reason I "fell in love" with Valentina was her amazing personality - she's a talented yet very lovely and humble person. How many pianists actually talk with their fans in YT!?

[nineandahalffor88]

Classicalal...ur perspective is narrow. VL is a great pianist, but not as much as you think. She simply works utube...seemingly the extent of your exposure. Zimmerman's pride IS sickening, look into it. Many greater pianists out there. Pianist are not gods, nor are surgeons or architects or billionaires. Humility is honorable. Conrad Black..? I am nearly positive VL is modest and was just sensing some"ego" by comments. i understand the danger of pride. i wish her well, this won't do her harm. 

[theoryman1]

Other than the fast tempos being a bit too fast for my taste, this is a beautiful take on one of my favorite Chopin pieces. But, did you intentionally add that measure at 11:35?

Now, let's hear the Ballades!

[iamjessi4]

@theoryman1 yes, you're right!! there are only 3 measures of the arpeggios at that part and she did indeed play 4...It's an inconsistent repetition from before and it's easy to miss. I admit that I had to pay special attention to it when I started to memorize it. I really hope she catches that mistake and fixes it before she performs it again!

[nineandahalffor88]

There is no doubt that VL is a superb pianist in every way. She is also charming and intelligent. But she is not invincible. As an accomplished, and well known pianist myself, i offer good advice in remaining modest. Never exalt yourself, let others do that. This will not harm VL one bit. And when people have something unpleasing to say...take it. If Gaspar... is "easy" for her, or me, or anyone, be gracious to others who may never be able to play it. This has nothing to do with me!

[debrucey]

@nineandahalffor88 When a concert pianist says gaspard is easy, its pretty obvious to anyone who isn't a complete fool that they are talking relatively. Of course, in the context of a beginner its not easy, but thats not the context their using. I dont see any non-pianists being offended by this. The problem is in your own mind.

[marrieter08]

I can not imagine those fingers tickling someone.............. oh goodness gracious me it would be so freaking deadly.....

[debrucey]

@ValentinaLisitsa How many cameras did you have shooting this simultaneously? And how many operating them?

[elviragagliardi]

hello, Valentina bravaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[nineandahalffor88]

Thk you for your reponse. The Fantasy realistically is technically difficult...Chopin's most techically and emotionally difficult work as a whole. You have fantastic wide spanning hands, long fingers and well crafted technic making it "easy" for YOU but this is the exception and NOT the norm. I believe only pianist at the pinnacle of technic and emotional command are suited to play this piece. It's like saying Mephisto is easy, to a rare few..this is my point. One can't generalize like this.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@nineandahalffor88 This is what I said: "Technically it is not a difficult piece, emotionally - yes." Please read 7 comments below.

VL

[classicalalways]

@nineandahalffor88 Your comments nineandahalffor88 are ridiculous. Lisitsa is one of the most brilliant virtuosos on the planet today, regardless of your personal "impression" and whether or not "the egomaniac that is peeking through" - do the words "egomaniac" and "peeking" belong anywhere when discussing how someone plays the piano? "Sickening pride of Zimerman?" What the hell is that? Either Zimerman plays well or does not and describe his playing - but "sickening pride" is idiotic.

[Rotwatcher]

@nineandahalffor88 Your comment is ridiculous. For ordinary mortals, running 100m under ten seconds is superhuman - for Usain Bolt it's easy. In the same way fiendishly difficult music like this is "easy" for someone of Valentina Lisitsa's ability. It's nothing to do with arrogance. Actually, people who fret about a piece's level of difficulty are usually missing the point - it's the music that counts, not the number of notes per second.

[anniepianist]

Listita, I show your video to my piano teacher the other day and he said he knows you. He told me where you're from, where you went to, etc. He said you are genius ( but actually you guys both genius to me :"D) I'm your big fan ever :D I'm a Music Performance student at Mount Royal University. My teacher name is Dmitry Nesterov. Do you know him? He really appreciate your talent :D

[ale92LP]

Italy needs such piano performances... will you come here in Rome one day?

[COCOONFABULA]

Hey I thought you had say you'd post chopin 's Ballade n2, but I believe you haven't, will you do it ?

[nineandahalffor88]

i enjoy you playing. You play with panache and conviction. I have enjoyed "getting to know you" via u tube. You seem like a lovely person. i recall however, playing for a jury, who were commenting on the scope of my concerto repetoire. i commented that " i don't find the Brahms (B flat) difficult. I quickly learned that this is a quick way to be toppled from what I perceived to be my throne.

[nineandahalffor88]

i enjoy you playing. You play with panache and conviction. I have enjoyed "getting to know you" via u tube. You seem like a lovely person. i recall however, playing for a jury, who where commenting on the scope of my concerto repetoire. i commented that " i don't find the Brahms (B flat) difficult. I quickly learned that this is a quick way to be toppled from what I perceived to be my throne.

[HarmoniousNotes]

I love you

[NoFacePlayer]

You have no idea how much I love Chopin's music. Your performance was wonderful. I totally want to learn how to play this now. =)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@NoFacePlayer You will enjoy it . Technically it is not a difficult piece , emotionally - yes.

[NoFacePlayer]

@ValentinaLisitsa I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Also, would you say that the emotion of a piece is hardest for any piece? Otherwise, it's just notes, yes? Maybe? In any case, I will most definitely find/buy the sheet music so I can learn it! It's time I learned something new. And since I love Chopin(really! I've done projects/read about his life since age 12!) that's even more incentive. I just hope I can make everything sound all right in the end! Thank you for responding to my comment. =)

[mikejr41387]

@ValentinaLisitsa valentina, maybe not hard for you, but definately not easy for ME lol

[qdsfd]

@ValentinaLisitsa I literally fell in love with you :) too bad you're already married

Keep uploading videos I enjoy so much watching them! And I love your way of playing!!

[saulboyjt]

Where are them shoes?

Cute.

Beautiful performance though shoe or not...

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@saulboyjt no shoes - this is a real , not a fake recording session after all ! Shoes squeek on the pedal and drive producers crazy :-)

[JUSTINMILL3R]

@ValentinaLisitsa I just read the "description" and I'm in awe. Your right in writing "emotion - yes"... who knew such a story could be made into music? Obviously I'm new to this piano thing, so I thank you for introducing me to all the works of great artists with a real knowing of what it is.

[lolhernandez401]

@ValentinaLisitsa ive only been playing for a year noe and u make it seem like if it takes forever to learn all that what i need to do is practice more thanks for every video you are once again a fantastic person and a fastastic piano player i think that anybody who says something about you is crazy have you ever played a piece and played it differently to the music sheets????

[languageleon]

@ValentinaLisitsa Not only do I want to say that your playing always gets me, I need to add that I'm amazed how nicely and often you reply to your fans and how much care you put into both the playing and the reception and feedback and questions.

Truly appreciative of your work in all aspects.

[etmax1]

Valentina, thanks for that valuable history lesson. It's a sad reflection of time that the strong use the weak for their own devices, I wish it weren't so. At least we have famous artists over time that keep the stories alive in music, picture and word. Thankyou.

[pablosalaco]

I am recently learning Liszt's Funerailles and reading what you wrote in the description box inspired me, it is very hard to play this piece and at the same time detach yourself from the history behind it. In this case Liszt's dedication to his countryman that perished during the revolution or as other suggest a dedication to his friend Chopin since he wrote October 1849 on the original manuscript. I guess I will think about Chopin while playing this the Funerailles :)

[anupaum]

I've never heard this before. What a beautiful piece of music!

[carlhopkinson]

Valentina, I wish you could put up some slow motion videos on these Chopin/Liszt pieces (especially etudes) so we trying hard students could better study your movements.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@carlhopkinson It would require a special camera - the one used to film wildlife :-) The problem with regular cameras is that there will be no sound . If anybody can find a solution - I am for it !

[etmax1]

@carlhopkinson if the videos are in uncompressed or low compressed form, in 60P which some domestic digital cameras can do you will see most of it with careful observation, but it would need more bandwidth and storage I think that Google/YouTube would care for I think.

[juanjo1944]

Aparte de que eres una pianista impresionante, eres una interprete magnífica de una gran elegancia interpretando...TE FELICITO......

Te he conocido por esta red y me has impactado.

FELIZ NAVIDAD

Saludos cordiales...desde Barcelona

[DuduKorg]

Watch this and see myself TRYING to play Fantasie Op. 66 on a DESTRUCTED 90th years old piano is simply shameful... But I'm Brazilian! I'll never desist!! I hope...

[maternalheart66]

Well, you didn't have to be so harsh on poor Liszt. He was a genius, look at the symphonic poems or the Sonata in B minor. I think it's funny you said such cruel things about him, when in your video of La Campanella you play it fast and loud, when really it's supposed to be Allegretto and pp throughout except for the coda. I love your playing Valentina, you're one of my idols, but I think that bit was a little uncalled for.

[kingdave84]

@maternalheart66 Build a bridge and get over it.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@maternalheart66 Oh , I am sorry it came out this way - I was trying to be a bit humorous and not to make my annotations sound like musicology article. Liszt actually did a lot to help promote Chopin music - even in his own way of marketing it . Without Liszt we would not thought of Finale of Funeral March Sonata the way we do now . He gave the world this wonderful and very descriptive quoteabout wind over the graveyard... I LOVE Liszt!!!

[maternalheart66]

@ValentinaLisitsa Oh goodness, I feel bad now :( I didn't want to sound mean or anything, it just seems most people are quick to judge Liszt as cheap or showy, you know? It's lovely to hear you're another Liszt fan though. Regarding the Allegretto comment, I only said that because my edition has allegretto as a tempo marking. Maybe the editor made a mistake or something, sorry. :)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@maternalheart66 Oh please , don't feel bad for anything . We are having a very friendly crowd here :-) And enjoy answering a real questions - like yours - more than replying to someone praise:-)

Alegretto is correct - but one person Alegretto is another's Adagio - and yet another's Allegro con brio :-)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@maternalheart66 I am working on hours and hours of Liszt right now - ( so we shall have more videos soon) and enjoying his music throughly - as always !!!!

[maternalheart66]

@ValentinaLisitsa that's great too hear! My teacher finally let me learn some Liszt - his etude "Un Sospiro". I'm sure that one's just a walk in the park for you ;)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@maternalheart66 It is a beautiful etude - and not an easy one :-)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@maternalheart66 About La campanella .... I totally accept your critique about the nuances ( there is one FF before coda LOL) it happens because it is very hard to play for both the audience and microphone. If you play in a huge 2000+ seats hall, even if you whisper something pianissimo - for close-up microphone it is goign to sound like you are shouting . If you paly for microphone , audience is not going to hear anything.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@maternalheart66 I respecfully disagree with Allegretto comment. Liszt idolized Paganini and he wanted piano to sound like Paganini's virtuoso violin. The theme is borrowed fromPaganini and if you check ANY violinist playing it - the tempo is always the same( Kogan , Heifetz, Accardo...) and it is MUCH quicker than piano attempts. Violin piece is "easier" but this not an excuse for any pianist to play it in half-tempo!!!!

[ValentinaLisitsa]

Just type in YouTube thread : Paganini Campanella Violin

[Pilatuswwww]

Grande Chopin !!! Grande Valentina......

[hanshead]

Easily one of Chopin's greatest works. That final little solo melody at the end is one of the most beautiful moments in music, and the journey this piece takes one on is amazing.

No fantasy comes close, even those involving Jessica Alba.

[kaleidoscopio2006]

this interpretation is so hot that she had to play barefoot to chill out.Now, seriuosly, great interpretation of this very difficult piece.Love to see your ballerina hands.

[Crodajudile]

Thank you so much for this commentary! It makes this piece much more fascinating ! This performance is captivating, I admire your talent, thanks !

[Kaggypants]

Your playing is superb as always. Your stories are becoming more intricate and engrossing! I LOVE IT. I am so glad you can educate us on the history of many of these musicians and tell us exactly what they intended in the piece you play. That combination is very powerful. Please keep up the great work Ms. Lisitsa!

[93mozartina]

how many time do you spent to study this fantastic fantasy??

[Makedonwow]

I love watching and listening to this woman playing the piano so much.

She is so in trance with what she does, it's unbelievable.

aaand i usually play with my socks on xD hihi

[rbellak]

A truly marvelous performance! I also enjoyed Valentina's commentary. However, I would point out that it's not Liszt's fault that some pianists treat his music as "warhorses". In fact, Valentina herself does not. Her performances of Liszt sound vividly fresh and vibrant. I bet that would apply to Funerailles, too.

[adumsalsa]

i like playing barefooted too! :D

[CaseyRocky]

nice program notes. living in Canada, even today, I can really relate to the slipping on the ice program in Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

[msmusicmarg]

Beautiful interpretation and fantastic technique!

[dawidmysle]

you have soul, Valentina :) you bring this music alive for me, and am glad to see you like playing barefoot too :)

[1963mathetes]

Beautiful piece, powerful playing. The "history lesson" added to my appreciation of it. The videography is inspired too...and are you playing BAREFOOTED?!?

[OrbiliusMagister]

Chopin a Russian composer? Yesterday I attended a concert, inside a church, a tight selection of Chopin piano pieces (a Prelude, a Waltz, a Fantasia impromptu, two mazurkas and finally Andante spianato e grande polacca brillante). In that context some short "chorale" passages sound much more Russian than normally expected. Is it only a boutade or so I wirte something which could be shared?

[eddie1344]

This is truly a wonderful, exquisite performance (as always). Thank you Valentina :-)

[gmorino47]

che dolcezza che poesia in queste note Un'estasi ! Brava Valentina! Grazie Chopin che ci hai lascito questa musica divina !

[thomasc65]

One of my fav Chopin pieces, the last one I was learning at music college, thanks as allways Valentina : )

[TheAL845]

I feel paralyzed! It is the tone! It's like it's not even coming from the piano!

[AlcidesConstante]

Your description of the piece is fascinating. This interpretation, although it is inherently subjective, guides us, translates some feelings we can not express in words, sometimes enter into dissonance with our own interpretation, but always leads us to successive hearings and a more careful analysis of the piece. We are extremely grateful, both for music and for your thoughts.

[tunglour]

Awesome :D

[4001TD]

It's good to know I am not the only one playing piano bare feet. With my toes kind of grabbing the pedal, I feel I have more control.

[theantonioexperience]

why where you without shoes ?? =)

[bummy33]

Why do you need to take a plane to Paris? Why don't you just fly!!! lol jk but seriously take care! I hope you take sometime to relax and go shopping or something! Love your videos! Such a large repertoire!

[ValentinaLisitsa]

OK , the description continues ! I hope to finish my blah-blah-blah part before I board the plane to Paris :-)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

It starts with an ominously quiet funeral procession, a march full of dignity and reserve. Just like a twist sometimes used in movies - we see now the end of a story that is about to be told , before we know what happened we already know the sad result. Or is it sad indeed?

[ValentinaLisitsa]

Next instant ( and everything is happening so fast ) brilliant cascades of octaves ( move aside, Liszt ) take us to the next theme , half-march and half cavalry charge in it is ALMOST unstoppable propulsion ( mind you , battles in those olden days were done with people against people , and the side with strongest will to win would succeed . Now this notion is pretty much reserved to World Cup :-))

[ValentinaLisitsa]

Suddenly , the attack fizzles out and we are facing the repeat of the first theme ( Here Chopin does quite an incredible thing , instead of literally repeating the main theme over and over , as happens in so many pieces - he takes it to different keys giving added significance to those changes ).

[ValentinaLisitsa]

This time the first phrase is much  lower - in C minor , and thus weakened significantly , but the second , major , phrase sounds much warmer and "more humane" ( being also lowered half-octave to G flat ) and gives us a glimpse of hope. Now there is a long awaited respite - finally. The quiet before the storm , before the final reckoning. Beauty of this stillness is beyond anything describable by words.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

. Chopin understands correctly the human nature , the "anatomy" of act of bravery , of heroism, of selfless sacrifice.Every nation had those moments that made it - remember Alamo for Americans, Brest Fortress for Russians, Thermopylae , Masada, you name it….

[ValentinaLisitsa]

Those notions , particularly when connected to patriotism ( it is actually good and maybe even noble to die for your own country ) that are easily dismissed by modern "civilized" humans - hey , - our thinking goes -why be so dramatic , we can always compromise , we can always retreat and hope to regains something later by talks , by reason ….until we compromise ourselves into a corner :-(

[ValentinaLisitsa]

So, at this very moment in music , before the final showdown - what we hear from Chopin is not some nocturnish love song but a prayer , a simple communal prayer , not a single voice supplication but a choir of very archaic , (or modern sounding for 19th century ears ) harmonies. We need no words to understand that this prayer is a last reserve …

[ValentinaLisitsa]

And sure enough , the main theme returns - this time two changes , it is in B flat Minor - and it is powerfully doubled in octaves ! Like if (added for benefit of atheists reading this :-) LOL) the prayer was answered and our heroes acquired some untapped before , inhuman strength . We can almost believe in a happy end here.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

Second phrase is soaring to heavenly heights this time - testing the upper limits of piano registers. and the codetta ( ah, the scientific term for the last theme ) is hardly a march anymore , but with Chopin's blessing ( Piu mosso and Sempre piu mosso - "faster", and" increasingly faster" are his marks ) it is wild apotheosis of a battle.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

We don’t even notice when the moment of death comes - in anesthesia of a fight , with pure adrenalin pumping on…. Suddenly, again just like in movies - the camera switches to slow motion and we see the fall almost like a choreography movement - slow and smooth. And the very last musical thoughts? That prayer theme is here again - as a thanksgiving of a victory which we don't live to see but we believe it will come…. The "movie" ends with two chords - one minor and one major. THE END

[curzmg]

@ValentinaLisitsa England is at the moment covered in snow. I was standing out in the endless white earlier and this came on my iPod, I have heard it a couple of times before but couldn't remember much beyond the opening theme. I listened to the whole thing just standing there and it was utterly euphoric. Then I come home to the joy of a Lisitsa recording. I was listening to the Biret version and though it is fabulous I can't help but feel the pressure on her rushed her recordings a little.

[curzmg]

Don't get me wrong I love her set and to take on a composer like that is a daunting task but it does result in a little loss of soul if you know what I mean. I am so glad you are truly embracing your Youtube channel lately though, your thoughts are beautiful and its so lovely to have the genius of an idol confirmed to you. You have a beautiful darkness to your interpretations, in your obsession with avoiding a sentimental Chopin and that suits me just perfectly! Thank you Valentina!

[ValentinaLisitsa]

Just make sure to click "all coments" othervise the order is all messed up. Youtube cut the space for descriptions :-)

[Kaggypants]

@ValentinaLisitsa Please do! You have quite a way with words. A poet and a pianist. =)

[SertavisSaviPianist]

I really do enjoy your descriptions, very informative, and well, fun to read in my opinion. Thanks for that : )

Awesome playing :D

[1ouisa]

lol evening dress and barefoot... :P

[fortissimoX]

thank you for comments added to video!

[xillian344]

i'm in the middle of learning this---its one of my Chopin favorites. it's definitely a tough song to play...gosh, how do you get so good? Definitely best interpretation/ performance of this song iv seen so far. Love your videos---You are truly one of the best pianists (if not the best) out there.

[AltoSaxOlly]

thank you very much for the informative "program-like" comment box, it was a very intriguing read as was hearing your always perfect rendition of this piece just as intriguing :D x

[musicaorganum]

Bravo, Valentina! Bravo! Please keep these videos coming! 

[hadricalifornia]

Jeeze! What a video! And what a text! Thank you, everybody should write such musical-historical contexts when posting a music video. And everybody should play like you ^^ I bow before you Valentina, once again

[Stax148]

@hadricalifornia Na it wouldnnt be good if everyone play the very same. How boring would this be? That is the best thing in classical music inst it? Everyone is playing somehow different! Of course there are just a few who can play as good as Valentina, but they are playing all somehow different. Just imagine you watch a piano competition and everyone is playing the same. How boring this would be! However finally I found an Interpretation I really like on youtube! Thank you for that Valentina =)

[hadricalifornia]

@Stax148 Yes you are right of course. That is indeed the magic about classical music. I was formulating a fast compliment, it didn't turn out to be what I really meant. I do love it though, just like you!

[Minanto91]

Valentina, can you play Liszt's "Funerailles"?

[Jolteon206]

I love Valentina! <3

[ForteLink]

Brava Valentina - you are by far my favorite pianist, and each new video reminds me exactly why.

[MrCapacitors]

Your description is interesting and a good history lesson.Bravo!!

This pianopiece is one of my fovourites and your interpretation is soooooooo good.

many thanks

[ALEClovesGENIALMUSIC]

Awesome and interesting reading once again. I agree on detailed programs that can become dated. It happened in some parts of Pink Floyd last Waters-leaded album "The Final Cut" with names of presidents and other historic figures of around 1983. Anyway I prefer Liszt to Chopin ... as I adore "The Final Cut" ^_^ Sorry, I couldn't resist, lol. Keep playing in such a wonderful way Valentina ! (And please come to Italy ^_^)

[xxYeahBoi]

awesome!!! i've been waiting for this piece <3

and 4th too :P just saying.

[thoxbui]

From the size of the vid's description, it must be handy to be a pianist when it comes to typing. The funny thing is that i hang on to each of your words just like I hang on to each of your notes...

[ValentinaLisitsa]

I run out of space in description , will continue in comments:-)

[niru54321]

@ValentinaLisitsa LOL did you research alot on this fantasy? I play piano too and I started at your age also. Basically, Im 13 yrs old and Im learning Totentanz. Remarkable piece of music isnt it? :) I just Love your performances on youtube. You're the best Miss Valentina!! :D

[diegokillua]

=D 2nd



[maaanny16]

Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. posth. 66. PLEEEEEEAASSSEE!! MS. LISITSA!!! :D

[hbmp88]

@maaanny16 i gasped when i read fantasie but then i saw it was f minor :( but still great valentina! please please please c-sharp minor! i learned that this summer and really want to hear you play it! there are not many good recordings of that and im sure u will be no. 1!!! keep it up :D