Chopin: Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat (Richter)

One of Chopin’s best works, and -- like most of his very last works, but to an even greater degree -- a construction of incredible harmonic ambiguity and structural intricacy. Think, for example, of the harmonically misleading and rather mysterious transitions to and from the lyrical middle section (which in itself modulates with surprising abandon). The (like the Barcarolle) has a justified reputation for being incredibly difficult to perform effectively. The structure is sprawling, there is no obvi