F. Chopin – Ballade n. 1 op. 23 (1836)
 
Composed between 1831 and 1842, Chopin’s 4 ballades are one of his most notable heritages, as well as some of the most challenging pieces in the standard piano repertoire. Disputedly inspired by Chopin’s friend’s Adam Mickiewicz poems, the ballades share some structural elements with the sonata form, which however they interpret in a freer way, with sudden alternations of calm and turbulent themes and a 6/4 or 6/8 meter that sets the “ballade” time signature. The composition of the first ballade took 4 years of Chopin’s early career between Vienna and Paris. After the brief, solemn introduction in Largo time signature, the Ballade articulates around two main themes rich of lyrism, brilliance, fantasy and spectacularism, which lead the listener from the calm, contemplative opening Moderato to the savage restlessness of the coda.