Although the creation of the set was almost simultaneous over an extended period, Chopin's 24 Etudes were grouped into two opuses, Opus No. 10 dedicated to his friend Franz Liszt, and Opus 25, dedicated to the Countess d'Agoult, Franz's partner at the time. Published in Paris in 1833, the twelve studies that make up Opus 10 are of long standing. Some of them were composed in Warsaw when Chopin was almost a teenager.
By its publication, Chopin had been settled in a politically turbulent Paris for two years. But his music aroused interest in the newspapers and his presence in the salons was greatly admired. Dressed with the utmost elegance, he appeared for dinner at the homes of ambassadors, barons, and various lords. And while he accompanied the Countess Potocka in her singing, he could also hear Marie d'Agoult commenting to the audience that his Etudes were "prodigious".
Étude in E-flat minor, Opus 10 No 6
Prodigious perhaps, but by no means spectacular. Lasting a little less than four minutes, this Étude exudes an atmosphere that mimics a nocturne by Chopin himself. At the same time, it gives the listener the feeling that the technical demands are less demanding. But its difficulty is of another kind, not very visible: it lies in demanding from the performer a remarkable ability to play legato and legatissimo, with both hands, while simultaneously making the inner voices sound clear and distinct.
The performance is by the talented Ukrainian pianist Valentina Lisitsa.
