Chopin – Étude op. 10 n. 3  (1832)
 
Frederic Chopin composed his 12 Études op. 10 in his early twenties, leaving an indelible mark at the very beginning of his career of ingenuity as a composer and virtuoso pianist. Dedicated to his friend Franz Liszt, the 12 Études explore the whole range of technical possibilities of piano, each focusing on a specific technical theme, yet maintaining an exquisite melodical sense and musical balance that make every single piece a pleasure to listen beyond study. The third etude in E maj is one of the most acclaimed of the opera and a masterpiece on its own. Here the difficulty does not sit in the technical execution of the notes, but in the ability to draw the enchanting melody – so much that Chopin believed it to be the most beautiful he ever composed – from the intricated accompaniment.