Raoul von Koczalski plays Chopin Ballade no. 3 opus 47

Raoul Koczalski (1884-1948) plays Chopin's Ballade no. 3 in A flat major opus 47. Recorded in 1938. Koczalski studied for four summers with Karl Mikuli (1821-1897), a pupil of Chopin. Koczalski wrote of these lessons in a book published in 1936. Most important to the young boy was the way in which Mikuli analysed the works they studied together, revealing their spiritual and architectural qualities. Every aspect of playing the piano was addressed by Mikuli: "Strictly based on Chopin's method, his teaching was so revolutionary that even today it commands all my admiration..." Koczalski went on to say that Mikuli stressed above all "...the care for authenticity with which Chopin's works must be approached. Here there is no camouflage, no cheap rubato and no languishing or useless contortions." Illustration to Book III of "Pan Tadeusz" by Adam Mickiewicz. Picking mushrooms, painting by Franciszek Kostrzewski, ca. 1860. Photographs: Koczalski playing for Welte-Mignon; the Polish Poet Adam Mickiewicz (Chopin was probably inspired by his Ballads when he wrote his own musical Ballades).