i`ve been playing the piano since i was twelve, and chopin has been my favourite composer since then. I`ve worked on many of his works, and just out of curiosity, what is the most technically and musically challenging piece by chopin?

Hmm...most people would say his Etudes, but I`d have to say one of his Ballades. Which one though....hmm....Ballade Number 1 in G-, Op. 23...It`s not that hard but the music is very confusing!

Clayton, despite what people might say about the difficulty of the Etudes, the Ballades are the most demanding of his works. The codas of the first and last Ballades are nearly unplayable for some folks. The first Ballade`s furious speed and leaping of hand positions make it a bear to play. For the Fourth Ballade, the chromatic third scales are annoying, at least for me.

You`ll find the Third Ballade the most technically accessible of the four. That`s why it`s the one you`ll hear played the most.

The most challenging work he wrote are the 24 studies without a doubt, they would be more of a challenge as a concert recital than a ballade. On their own they would not be individually as hard as his ballads, but to play them all as a set is surely much harder. His first etude or the winter wind study I would say are the hardest, and probably harder than a ballad, not as long though, so memory wise the ballad would be harder.

I heard that Chopin`s "Harp" Etude so challenging that even Horowitz couldn`t play it (or so I heard). Anyone to enlighten me on this subject?

Horowitz`s technique has been unmatched in the history of piano technique. There was nothing he couldn`t play with ease, even during his concert in Moscow just before he died.

incorrect - he has been superceded by my friend marc-andre hamelin.

chopin`s hardest piece - op10no2

ballads seem hard, but they`re not very challenging as they fall very easily under the hand.

the nocturnes and sonatas are far more challenging, technically and musically.

and yes, marc-andre hamelin is good, and many pianists have better technique than horowitz - but horowitz could bring an amazing energy to everything he played, which is why many consider him to be one of the top greatest pianists of the century.

i think his barcarolle`s challenging. ne1 else think that?

well my own opinion is his second piano concerto, the a minor etude of op.10,the fantasie polonaise,the fourth ballade is the hardest of the ballades..the g minor is definetely not the hardest piece.dont get me wrong..its one of his greatest pieces ever..but not hardest..and i disagree with whoever said that the AFlat(no.3)..is played the most because it is the easiest of the 4..yes it is the easiest..but the g minor is by far the most popular and commonly played ballade in concerts..and of course Horowitz can play any Chopin piece...but i dont know if he played Chopin`s entire works like Ashkenazy..