Josef Hofmann plays Chopin Berceuse D flat major op. 57

At first the composer titled the work Variations but the title was altered for publication to the current Berceuse.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• hofmann
• chopin
• berceuse
• piano

[legopiano]

too fast, should listen to rubinstein or pollini's one~

[truecrypt]

Instead of recommendation you better try to explain why do you think it's "too fast".

Do you really think people who listen this don't know about Rubinstein and Pollini?

[jh200176]

@truecrypt If any proof is needed that there is no such thing as THE right tempo for any piece, then the recordings of Hofmann (especially the 1937) and Solomon of the Berceuse, both among the best Chopin recordings known to me, are.

[truecrypt]

@jh200176

I also think "the right tempo" is a relative term and a lot of depends on who is playing. Hofmann probably could do it twice or 3 times slower... and it would be still wonderful.

[fndwggn]

@legopiano Lesitsa Continued...

Chopin was just having fun with next-to-impossible filigree passagework.

My favorite rendition is Hoffmann and he is pretty darn fast :-)

I agree though, this is a bit fast for my taste. Prefer hers. I play it more slowly, but she has an interesting and valid take. And interesting history. But her left hand, is a bit dead for me, as is Hofmanns. Speed should not eliminate the freedom of push and pull. Especially with chopin

[fndwggn]

@legopiano

According to Valentina Lesitsa:

When Chopin wrote this piece it didn't even have a title "Berceuse" - it was called variations brillants. It was added by the publisher later.

Classical variations have to stay in the same tempo unless indicated otherwise.What's good for the theme is fast for variations. But if theme is too slow , it is a funeral march not berceuse:-)

[pianotruth]

@truecrypt For those living on the same planet as Artur Rubinstein or Pollini, please close your eyes and listen to Hofmann's messages and you will realize how much emotions, feelings, dynamics, and metaphysics ... Hofmann has encrypted in his music, as explained in his book. Remember Artur Rubinstein was longing to be a student of Anton Rubinstein who only accepted Hofmann as a private pupil.

[pianotruth]

@legopiano Hofmann was referred by Anton Rubinstein as "a genius after Mozart" and a "musical phenomenon." His musical interpretations were like messages inside atoms from different universes which do not have to be agreed by those who think he plays too fast. "Speed" is a relative term. For those who live on the same planet as

[rasmusahlmark]

Thanks for sharing this recording. When was it recorded?

[lagunagreg]

I'm afraid I agree with those who think it's too fast. It's not supposed to sound like a virtuoso showpiece.

[libetta]

thanks

[CuteOrCool]

This song really nice.