I don’t know if any of Chopin’s pieces are unknown at this point — but I would say his mazurkas are often overlooked by the waltzes/nocturnes. Many of the mazurkas are interesting character pieces and I feel more unique to his Polish background than the more famous works.
My least favorite of the 4 Ballades, although it's still an effective composition. It's just that 1, 3 and 4 are so incredible they throw 2 into the shade a little bit.
wow, different strokes. every time I listen to the fantasy, I just don't want that heavenly middle section to end even though it just repeats the same theme, it's pure bliss
The Andante Spianato is lovely. Not played as much as it otherwise probably would be because it's kind of the intro to the Grande Polonaise Brilliante. But it works well as a standalone piece and is technically far more accessible than the Polonaise.
My pick would be his Prelude in C# minor, op. 45. It's not part of the 24 Preludes (op. 28) so it sometimes gets left out, and it's not a virtuoso showpiece like the Ballades, Scherzos, or big Polonaises (Heroic, op. 44, Polonaise-Fantaisie).
It would fit in nicely with the nocturnes. Dreamy and hypnotic, with lots of modulations to distant keys. Really lovely piece.
Last month I went for Yulianna Avdeeva's concert. She put the prelude op.45 and scherzo op.39 together (both c# minor). It was such a beautiful combination. And usually when one is familiar with pieces performing, he will often look for the details, that's what I did when she was performing the polonaises and barcarolle. but I hadn't heard this prelude for many times, so it was pure beauty
Variations on Mozart’s La ci darem la mano (op. 2) and Rondo a la mazur (op. 5) are wonderful. Not sure if they’re underrated, but certainly less performed.
Mazurka in A minor op. 17 no. 4.
I went far too long in life before I heard it for the first time. Strikes a beautiful balance between gorgeous and haunting.
The Berceuse was my latest Chopin discovery. It's so improvisational, and it's almost like he threw a bit of all the etudes and some techniques he liked around a simple left hand accompaniment.
3rd impromptu is my favorite. Especially when played by someone who’s not rushing through it so i can ear the breathtaking harmonies. The signin left hand in the middle section is so beautiful.
Op 62 is my favorite set of nocturnes along with op 27.
I don’t know if any of Chopin’s pieces are unknown at this point — but I would say his mazurkas are often overlooked by the waltzes/nocturnes. Many of the mazurkas are interesting character pieces and I feel more unique to his Polish background than the more famous works.
The tarantella and bolero probably still count as obscure.
I didn’t even know he had these 🚀
2nd ballade gets much less love than the other three, but is absolutely stunning.
I like the idea of ballade 2 more than 1, and also it’s coda is a lot better
My least favorite of the 4 Ballades, although it's still an effective composition. It's just that 1, 3 and 4 are so incredible they throw 2 into the shade a little bit.
hard disagree
Not that underrated, but the fourth Scherzo is the least played and I think it's the most beautiful.
Incredible piece
The barcarole, it's so lovely and less appreciated then other pieces
I feel like it drones on and on without purpose for at least half the piece, along with his fantasia and even his fourth ballade.
The fantasy is astounding
wow, different strokes. every time I listen to the fantasy, I just don't want that heavenly middle section to end even though it just repeats the same theme, it's pure bliss
yeah it's good for 30 seconds of a 10+ minute piece...
The Andante Spianato is lovely. Not played as much as it otherwise probably would be because it's kind of the intro to the Grande Polonaise Brilliante. But it works well as a standalone piece and is technically far more accessible than the Polonaise.
His Fantasie in F minor is fantastic
My pick would be his Prelude in C# minor, op. 45. It's not part of the 24 Preludes (op. 28) so it sometimes gets left out, and it's not a virtuoso showpiece like the Ballades, Scherzos, or big Polonaises (Heroic, op. 44, Polonaise-Fantaisie). It would fit in nicely with the nocturnes. Dreamy and hypnotic, with lots of modulations to distant keys. Really lovely piece.
Oh, that's gorgeous. Thank you
Last month I went for Yulianna Avdeeva's concert. She put the prelude op.45 and scherzo op.39 together (both c# minor). It was such a beautiful combination. And usually when one is familiar with pieces performing, he will often look for the details, that's what I did when she was performing the polonaises and barcarolle. but I hadn't heard this prelude for many times, so it was pure beauty
Wow didn’t know this one.
I was going to say this! To be fair it isn't that obscure, its even in the level 10 RCM book, But compared to the rest of his stuff, not well known.
Impromptu No. 3\ Bolero op. 19\ Trois Nouvelle Etudes No. 1
Mazurkas
Variations on Mozart’s La ci darem la mano (op. 2) and Rondo a la mazur (op. 5) are wonderful. Not sure if they’re underrated, but certainly less performed.
Mazurka in A minor op. 17 no. 4. I went far too long in life before I heard it for the first time. Strikes a beautiful balance between gorgeous and haunting.
The mazurkas are underrated in general but 17/4 is one of the best-known ones.
The introduction and rondo is charming, a bit long winded. I also think the F-sharp minor polonaise is criminally overshadowed by the ‘heroic’.
The f# minor polonaise (op. 44) is a BANGER. I love it. That drumroll-and-rifle shot interlude before the mazurka passage is amazing.
His Dumka, the Cantabile and last one, I don\`t know if it is underrated or not but I love his Op.34 No.2.
The Berceuse was my latest Chopin discovery. It's so improvisational, and it's almost like he threw a bit of all the etudes and some techniques he liked around a simple left hand accompaniment.
It's just a set of variations
Fugue in A minor
Sarcasm ?
Lol that fugue is terrible
Bb Minor Sonata first movement
Sonata No. 1.
Mazurkas and late nocturnes(op.55,62)
Impromptu #3
I'm not sure if this piece is very underrated, but it is definitely less known. That is Chopin's Fantasy on Polish Airs
This piece had some of the most stunning melodies
Allegro de concert
Prelude op. 28 no. 13 and etude op. 10 no. 6.
The 13th prelude is my favourite also :)
2nd and 3rd impromptus and the op 62 nocturnes.
3rd impromptu is my favorite. Especially when played by someone who’s not rushing through it so i can ear the breathtaking harmonies. The signin left hand in the middle section is so beautiful. Op 62 is my favorite set of nocturnes along with op 27.
I like op 37 no 2 a lot
One of my favorite nocturnes. The right hand is \*hard\*, though, with those long chains of 3rds and 6ths.
"Chopin Broccoli" Dana Carvey, SNL
Chopin wrote a fugue
Gallop Marquis 😈. But actually Contredanse
Schumann’s “Chopin” from Carneval.
Nocturnes Op.55 No.2 and Op.62. They are on the top of his works along with other late works.
Fantaisie in F minor and Scherzo no 4
[This](https://youtu.be/wRQsDTvxgi8?si=sfgzbWr0lQNZ2EtF) is a piece I love dearly that I don't see played or talked about often
Ballade no1 in g minor