Look Who it Was Random video

Charlotte de Rothschild (or Chopin?): Waltz in F minor

2,347 views · Published 13 December 2014 · 2:24 · Indexed 18 October 2026

Channel: PSearPianist · 2014 · Music

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#4 from '4 Pièces pour Piano' (published c. 1860)
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The French socialite, musician and painter Charlotte de Rothschild (1825-99) was the daughter of Baroness Betty de Rothschild, a leading Parisian soiree-holder, who gave Chopin an introduction to Parisian society by inviting him to play at one of her musical evenings following his arrival in Paris in 1831. Chopin repaid this kindness by teaching piano not only to Betty, but also to Charlotte, and Betty's niece, Matthilde. Matthilde later went on to write songs that have been recorded by the modern day family descendant, soprano Charlotte de Rothschild. However, the piano music of the earlier Charlotte is less known. Charlotte married her cousin Nathaniel de Rothschild in 1943, and the set of four pieces from which this comes were published under her title, la Baronne Nathaniel de Rothschild. You can read much more about Charlotte and her life here: http://bit.ly/12A6uej .

When I first wrote this description, I commented that inevitably these pieces were very much written under Chopin's spell.  However, I now discover that two of the pieces in the collection are pieces now attributed to Chopin himself, and previously thought not to have been published until at least 70 years after this set!  This leaves this waltz, and a polka.  Did Charlotte write these, or were these Chopin manuscripts that she chose to publish under her own name.  If Charlotte wrote this piece she was a good pasticheur - but I suspect that this is by the master himself!  If so, maybe this is a Chopin world premiere recording - or maybe you know this piece in another key or with a different title.  Do let me know!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Played by Phillip Sear
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