Chopin: Prelude Op.28 No.21 in B Flat Major, Cantabile (Pogorelich)

A very, very slow performance, and a rather illuminating one.

[demaris]

Maestro Chopin can really put that left hand to work.

[angelamc]

I think your description is spot on. I was listening to several recordings to use as reference and came across this one. It is illuminating, indeed.

[steveneardley]

I just discovered this prelude and started studying it on the piano. Some of the chords are just amazing. I was not at all certain at what speed to play it, because there was no marking. I've listened to a few versions on YouTube and this is the one I like best, though my instinct is to play it slightly faster. When it's played too fast all the amazing harmonic transitions in the bass are lost. The melody is not really the best part of this prelude anyway. I think when it is played slowly you can savor the full beauty of the piece. You can enter into it more fully.

[ryangray]

Hmmm, listening to this prelude at this tempo is a refreshing change!

[motaku]

I think it's beautiful and not sure why it's described as extremely 'slow.' If many others are playing it much faster, then it would seem they would lose some of the beauty. This is an eternal jewel to be savored, not to rush through.

[akelofgren]

Some prelude are as huge and great as the etyds

[hippophile]

Lovely performance. Captures everything! This is my next prelude to explore after the A flat major. I think I shall try to learn it for about that tempo - it cannot hurt even if I want to play a little faster later (not having Pogorelich's touch it might perhaps be a bit easier to sound well at a faster tempo?).

[akelofgren]

Yes because it is said that left is accompanying so Chopin must show something else

[grammaton]

"very slow performance"

Mr. Kumar, I adore the vividly evocative poeticism, detailed theoretical insights, and nuanced terminology you apply to these descriptions, but I think you might just be on speed if that is considered a slow tempo. I don't see "allegretto" anywhere in the score.

[benji]

In bar 5 at 1:05 it seems the right hand plays a flat instead of a. The same typo is in my score as well.

[direk]

It's illogical, he wrote this in this tempo why not play it at the same speed or don't play it  or play your own composition don't apply your own principle on others composition.. that's why they called it "Chopin's Composition" OK!!!!