Classical piano masterpieces: legendary performances from around the world you should hear at least once

Prelude No. 7 from 24 PreludesFrederic Chopin

Chopin – 24 Preludes, No. 7 in A major, Op. 28-7 / Performed by Kyoko Nakagawa

Among the pieces titled “Prelude,” this one is especially popular and is well known for being used in the Ohta Isan commercial.

Although it is a very short piece, it is packed with Chopin’s distinctive character, and I highly recommend listening to it in full (the commercial uses the full version as well…).

The performance does not require particularly advanced techniques, making it a good choice for beginners.

Scherzo No. 2Frederic Chopin

Scherzo No.2 op.31 Cyprien Katsaris

Meaning “joke” or “jest,” a scherzo is a very fast piece in triple meter, and among them Chopin’s Scherzo No.

2 is a masterpiece frequently used in TV commercials.

It begins darkly and passionately, then introduces a sweet, lyrical melody, during which the main theme—akin to a refrain—gradually unfolds.

The ending is especially breathtaking.

Mazurka No. 5, Op. 7 No. 1Frederic Chopin

Chopin / Mazurka in B-flat major, Op. 7 No. 1

A type of Polish national dance—also the homeland of Chopin—this piece has a buoyant, light triple-meter rhythm that feels wonderfully pleasant.

One of Chopin’s hidden gems that makes you want to start dancing just by listening, it may not seem particularly difficult technically; however, its distinctive rhythms and accents demand considerable expressive ability for Japanese performers to render it convincingly.

Waltz Op. 34 No. 1 “Grande valse brillante”Frederic Chopin

Chopin 08 Hirosuko Nakamura - Grand Valse Brillante, Op. 34 No. 1

Waltz Op.

34 No.

1, “The Brilliant Waltz.” It’s a work by Chopin.

There’s also a Chopin piece called “The Grand Brilliant Waltz,” which is easy to confuse with this one, so be careful.

The “Brilliant Waltz” is very dazzling and full of speed.

The same melody modulates several times, and that brilliance captivates listeners.

It may be a bit less well-known than the “Grand Brilliant Waltz,” but it’s no less splendid.

Please give it a listen.

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The Lucky BlacksmithGeorg Friedrich Händel

Handel: The Harmonious Blacksmith, pianist Yuki Kondo / Händel: The Harmonious Blacksmith, Yuki Kondo

When it comes to Baroque music, today Johann Sebastian Bach is overwhelmingly the most famous, but in his time it was Handel who basked in dazzling renown.

Among his keyboard works, the well-known “The Harmonious Blacksmith” is a nickname given to the final movement of the Harpsichord Suite No.

5 in E major.

3rd movement from PetrushkaIgor Stravinsky

Three Movements from Petrushka – Sergei Kasprov (piano)

Stravinsky employed a variety of compositional techniques depending on the era, including primitivism, neoclassicism, and twelve-tone methods.

Today, his popularity is concentrated around ballet music such as The Firebird and The Rite of Spring, and Petrushka is one of these as well—this is its piano arrangement.

Capriccio, Op. 76 No. 1Johannes Brahms

Ivo Pogorelich Plays Brahms Capriccio Op.76 No.2. lo-fi

This is Capriccio No.

2 by Brahms, one of the German Three Bs.

Ivo Pogorelić is a pianist from Belgrade, in the former Yugoslavia.

Known as a “heretic,” he has a variety of legendary episodes, and that iconoclasm is evident in his performances as well—unconventional interpretations that reveal new facets of the music.