Chopin claimed that the central Larghetto movement of his Piano Concerto No. 2 was inspired by his love for Konstancja Gładkowska, a singer and classmate at the Warsaw Conservatory.
Composition History
Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 was actually written before his Piano Concerto No. 1, but published second, hence its numbering.
Notable Performances
The premiere of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 took place in Warsaw on March 17, 1830, with Chopin himself at the piano, as part of his first public concert exclusively devoted to his own music.
Historical Context
Chopin composed the C sharp minor Scherzo in Valldemossa, Majorca, in an abandoned monastery without heating, while in poor health.
Compositional Technique
In the rondo finale of the Piano Concerto No. 2, Chopin uses inventive displacements of accents and cross-rhythmic phrase groupings, making it difficult to dance to, despite its mazurka influence.
Performer Biography
Seong-Jin Cho, the pianist on this recording, won First Prize in the 2015 Warsaw Chopin Competition, garnering international attention.
Critical Reception
The B flat minor Scherzo was so popular that Franz Liszt discouraged his students from playing it in his masterclasses.
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