Chopin Variations op. 2 “Là Ci Darem la Mano” [Denis Zhdanov]

[@Stevie-Steele]

I love this piece! It's Chopin's earliest "Masterpiece" - composed in 1827, the very same year Beethoven passed away. It almost feels like this piece is symbolic of a "passing of the torch" to a new era in music. It's filled with SO much innovation - Chopin's style was totally new at the time! This was the piece that made Schumann exclaim - "Hats off, gentlemen, a genius." Putting into context the time of the composition and the age of Chopin at the time - it makes that exclamation ring even more true!

[@più_lento_28_13]

The piece that made Schumann say « Hats off, gentlemen, a genius ! »

[@bluepearl4806]

I did not know those oieces of Chopin. Very different than we used to hear from Chopin. But beautiful though..Chopin is the most creative mind I have ver listened to. You play beautifuly cristal clear and colorful.Thank you!!!

[@mitchnew3037]

So clean and beautiful 🤩

[@dolcespiano]

A charming performance full of character and keen attention to detail. Awesome job!

[@gaspo53]

Denis, this is amazing! Massive thanks!!!!!!

[@TheChungruby]

Denis, your performance is refreshingly exquisite! After a long day, it’s exactly what I needed. Thanks to your tips on hand and finger exercises, my hand injury is healing very well. I feel that my right hand, especially my pinky, is not only mending but also getting stronger-something I didn’t expect at all! I'm noticing significant improvements in the strength and flexibility of both hands, thanks to your lessons. I can't wait to come home to practice and keep improving! I'm excited to continue this journey with you, filled with enjoyable lessons and helpful tips! I can't wait to learn this piece with your lesson as well!

[@homamellersh8446]

Those graceful fingers producing dazzling sounds again, thank you .

[@rodrigogb6022]

How beautifully played. Thanks for sharing this wonderful music. Speak about whimsical, yet being a set of variations!!

[@lalahohoable]

excellent work! Bravo Denis.

[@colinjames2469]

That was marvelous

[@3213470]

Really beautiful peace. I guess it has both some technical challenging passages and interpretational as well

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

Yes, it’s one of the most uncomfortable pieces by Chopin I ever played.

[@ricardosatyrov9477]

Very well ! You are so good pianist !!!! Bravo. !!

[@DanielMartinez-nw1pn]

Amazing. Wonderful playing.

[@s_oh]

Wow! That was brilliant! And such a great recording too. Add with many others, I had never heard these variations before, and what a delight it is to discover something like this through your channel.

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

Glad you enjoyed it! This piece is rarely played indeed.

[@Felven]

Always wanted to watch this performance in this kind of style, thank you!

[@AS_Piano]

Ever since I've heard chopin's late works and other more harmonic innovative virtuoso piano works by the likes of rachmaninoff, medtner, szymanowski, and feinberg, I've found it quite hard to get back into earlier chopin works. However, just like Bruce Liu's performance of the op 5 rondo in the 2020 chopin competition, this refreshing interpretation + your uniquely fun to watch video format made it a lot easier. Also man u nailed this: 9:02, one the scariest chopin passages ever, if not the scariest. *Edit: Also this is not a diss on chopin, the composers I listed had the benefit of chopin's many years of innovation. Obviously one would expect their music to be more "evolved".

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

Thanks for listening!

[@juanramonsilva1067]

This is a youthful composition by Chopin and it clearly shows his interest in virtuosity, much like other musicians were displaying at the time. Some variations even sound like if written by Liszt. Thank God Chopin didn’t stay in this overly virtuosic line, instead he opted for genuine innovation and uniqueness over just virtuosity.

[@danilopanico2382]

Eccellente!!!! ❤

[@korbybagoli]

Bravo!! ❤ 👏👏👏

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

Thank you!

[@vk7898]

Wow 😮

[@GTB311]

My sentiments exactly! Love love love DZ

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

Thanks for listening!😊

[@saratoon.s8410]

Bravo 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@RhodesyYT]

This interpretation brings out so much more i didnt realize existed in this piece thank you, also when will you play chopins allegro de concert?

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

thank you! no idea, it wasn't in my plans...

[@OwlPhoenix]

Oh so I wish your interpretations were on spotify

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

Sorry I am sooo lazy to sort out how to publish on Spotify. My bad absolutely.

[@robbym4515]

Amazing! How does this piece compare technically to other more famous masterpieces (Ballades, Scherzi, etc) and how do you subjectively rate its musical value compared to them?

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

One of the most uncomfortable. Very early Chopin is technically trickier than the later pieces.

[@sebastienrodrigues9407]

Beautifull playing 😊 which model of Kawai is it ? Thanks

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

Rx-5

[@ericastier1646]

Wait a minute... I was waiting the whole time for the only variation i wanted to hear the outward expanding two hands arpegios with blind jumps on both hands synchro at every bar. Come on it must be included.

[@TrollMeister_]

I am stopping at 2:57 be cause I did not once hear the main melody or something like it from ‘La ci darem la Mano’

[@pastaspaghetti100]

Variations start at 4:35

[@TrollMeister_]

@@pastaspaghetti100 thanks

[@pookz3067]

Yeah, a longish solo in this piece but the first measure does trace out an echo of some notes the theme as well, imo definitely supposed to remind you of the aria from the very start.

[@rogergustavsson5139]

👍❤❤❤

[@normalizedaudio2481]

You would think it could be written 4/2. Seems if you are going to play it like that, notation should reflect it. I never get these and always sound so bad on it. I just give up. Easier to play in 4/2.

[@rotsteineva]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@ericastier1646]

I'm sure Chopin played the introduction with much more continuous flow and less rubato. I know this is extremely difficult, and not saying i can do better but you sound academic. The rest is very good.

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

We can’t know for sure how Chopin would play it. Good musicians may play very differently each time, actually. But regardless of how he played, the performer’s task is not to imitate anyone’s interpretation, even the author's. For me, this introduction is a world of dreams, languor, vague premonitions, and unconscious desires. Each note should have time to unfold like a flower. Goethe’s "Stay, moment, you are so beautiful." It’s interesting that the poetry of this unhurried, savoring tenderness was perceived by you as "academic," confirming the truth that there are as many tastes as there are people. Thanks for the feedback though!

[@ericastier1646]

@@DenZhdanovPianist Hi Denis, you're right Chopin was known for never playing the same piece the same way each time. I agree it's not about imitating anyone, but there are important landmarks in the piece that should not be ignored for what they are. As if going on a scenic drive and you pass by a river gorge overlooked by a pavilion on the other side of the mountain peak emerging from the pine forest and you look at the fishes in the water instead don't see any and miss the rest. An exaggerated example. I like very much how you describe the introduction, it could not be better written. So i know you have it in you to play the introduction even better. page 1 bar 7 : forte is important here, you kept same mezzo forte page 1 bar 8 : you end the run almost piano, there is a crescend page 2 bar 5 This does not start forte even if there is a decrescendo. You damage the attention of the listener page 3 bar 3 : That's better you did not start forte page 4 : good page 5,6,7,8,.. : good page ? tremolo thirds in the right hand. accelerando you start almost stopped to create the accelerando but you start too slow. There is a loss of meaning you create too much slack it feels like a damaged fabric one before last bar : There are organ points notes left hand and right hand. You're not dramatic enough (more volume) and should hold them much longer to create the suspense ! You almost play it nonchalant. You must create tension here. As a result the start of the theme feels indistinct. Put it on a piedestal to alert the listener here comes what you've waited for.