Chopin's prelude in E minor, op. 28, no. 4

When I was a freshman in college, I heard an old scratchy recording of Chopin's prelude in E minor, op. 28, no. 4 for piano, and was so spellbound by it that I wanted to learn to play the piece myself. Over the years, I occasionally sit down and play it when I feel like it.

For fun, here is a sample recording of myself (in 2006) straight to MIDI from my Yamaha digital piano. The performance is rough and off-the-cuff, but it reflects what I was feeling the moment I was playing it. Click to play.

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How about that old recording I first heard? The performance in question was by the great Alfred Cortot, from 1926. I would later hear other renditions of the piece, but I would never forget the impact of Cortot's, in the freedom and drama of his interpretation. I would not say that Cortot's is the "correct" or "best" or even my "favorite" interpretation, as there are many ways to feel and play the piece, but Cortot in 1926 was the one that jolted me into Chopin's world.

The Cortot recording from 1926 can be heard here (skip to 0:55 to get to op. 28, no. 4):

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Any similarities in my approach and Cortot's are probably not coincidental, although I never deliberately imitate anyone nor do I want to.