Happt Days are Bound our way.
Then a friend of George’s, Pauline Viardot, entered Fred’s life. Those who remember the series I did on Brahms will remember her. Pauline was a lifelong friend of Clara Schumann, a fine pianist who took lessons from Franz Liszt himself, and one of the great opera singers of her age. Thirty years later, Pauline and Brahms were to meet at the resort town of Baden, Brahms was to write some songs for her – and they may have tumbled into bed.
Pauline was a tonic in Fred’s life. He now had a musical equal with whom he could play four-handed piano duets and discuss the finer points of music. This is why 1846 was the last year of major works and masterpieces – and what a set of masterpieces!
There is an understanding among pianists that the very greatest piece of music Chopin ever wrote was his Barcarolle. Watch the way he builds suspense with the middle section that begins at 3:15. The return to the first section at 6:30 is magical.
The pause at the cadence at 7:06 is milked just a bit by Rubinstein in this recording. In 1980 I saw Peter Serkin perform this piece at Royce Hall at UCLA, and he milked this pause for almost a full five seconds before completing the cadence. You could see the audience leaning forward in suspense just waiting for it.
Happy days are heading your way? Oh please do tell!
Good to see you Sandy! *Hugs*