In her tonebase masterclass, Chopin Competition gold medalist Yulianna Avdeeva shares an illuminating approach to the opening of Chopin’s Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. posth.
She begins not with the fingers, but with the imagination—urging pianists to hear the sound before touching the keys. This mental preparation, she explains, is the key to achieving a tone that sings with intention and emotional depth.
Avdeeva explores how balance, pedaling, and phrasing reveal the expressive soul of Chopin’s writing. She compares two historical editions of the piece and demonstrates how subtle pedaling choices can connect harmonies seamlessly, helping the melody breathe like the human voice. The result is a performance that feels alive, personal, and grounded in sound imagination.
Avdeeva reminds us that technique serves imagination, not the other way around. It’s a masterclass in musical intention from one of today’s finest Chopin interpreters.
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