Danny Tan wrote:

>I have had serious arguments with my girlfriend about Chopin Piano
>Concerto No. 1.  She is completely obsessed with the second movement
>which she said is "so beautiful".  To me, it seems just a long string of
>beautiful notes but do not "connect" emotionally.  I just played her the
>2nd movements of Rach Piano 2, Beethoven Piano 5, Grieg's Piano Concerto,
>and "challenged" her that these are more worth listening.  It resulted in
>a disastrous quarrel that I surrender...

*Relationships* don't go very well when you "challenge" your partner and
indicate that her musical taste is inferior to yours; those behaviors are
a recipe for disaster.  There are so many important aspects of life that
can result in partner quarrels - no point in arguing over musical tastes.

>Perhaps some Chopin die hards in the List can enlighten me how to listen
>to this concerto and like it.  Please don't tell me to just give up if I
>just don't like it.  It will just not do.

I think Danny has decided to go down the wrong road.  It's likely that his
girlfriend simply wants him to respect her preferences and not criticize
them - treat her as the equal that she is.  But, for what it's worth, give
the Ax/Sony recording a try.  It is quite different from the modern
instrument versions.

Don Satz
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