Chopin Polonaise c minor Op 40 #2 Valentina Lisitsa

This Polonaise is a “twin“ brother of another - far more famous Op 40, bearing a title of “Military“ polonaise. Unlike its famous sibling, this - technically easy - Polonaise suffered a lot from being a favorite piece to abuse for intermediate piano students. This tradition gradually led to depreciation of Chopin’s own remark “Allegro Maestoso“. It is very frustrating to hear it performed like a dirge or a funeral march - and while I can forgive students doing it, it is very bad when professionals try to “milk“ it in order to elicit tears and sighs from the audience - treating it like yet another prelude written by a sickly Chopin... It cannot be further from truth. This is a very nationalistic piece - in the very best sense of it. It was composed to swell the hearts of listeners with pride in their country, with a hope than no matter how despoiled and plundered at the moment, it will survive and flourish ( Just as famous words of Polish anthem“ Poland has not