Chopin: Waltz in A minor Op. 34, No. 2 "Valse brillante" | Daniel Barenboim (piano)

Frédéric Chopin's Waltz in A minor, Op. 34 No. 2, belongs to the composer's mature period and is an introspective and lyrical example of the Romantic piano waltz. In this video, the piece is performed by piano virtuoso Daniel Barenboim in all-Chopin concert in Warsaw in 2010 in the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall.

Chopin (1810-1849) published the piece in 1838 as the second of the three Op. 34 waltzes under the title "Trois Grandes Valses Brillantes" ("Three Grand Brilliant Waltzes"). The term "brilliant waltz" was part of a broader nineteenth-century tradition in which the social dance was transformed into virtuosic piano music intended primarily for listening rather than dancing. But "brilliant" doesn't exactly describe the character of this rather sorrowful piece with its lyrical opening, minor-key coloring and delicate accompaniment.

The waltz itself was extremely popular during Chopin’s lifetime. Originally a German-speaking Central European dance, it developed from earlier dances like the Austrian Ländler and became popular around the beginning of the nineteenth century, spreading through cafés, ballrooms and more intimate concert settings. Chopin played an important role in establishing this type of waltz as a significant form of Romantic piano music and bringing it to the more intimate salon settings in Paris, which he was known for. The work's lasting appeal is reflected in the fact that it later became one of Chopin’s most frequently arranged waltzes.

Daniel Barenboim was born in Buenos Aires in 1942 and went on to have an international career as both a virtuoso pianist and conductor, working with many of the world’s leading orchestras. Barenboim is also known for co-founding the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which brings together young musicians from across the Middle East to promote dialogue and understanding through music. The performance in this video was part of an all-Chopin concert Barenboim gave in Warsaw in 2010.

Author: Sarah Hucal
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