The romantic Romantic in me still gets emotional over Fryderyk Chopin dedicating his Op. 10 Etudes to Franz Liszt. It’s a very touching gesture when you consider that Chopin and Liszt were opposites in so many ways, their friendship fraught with jealousy and tension from the beginning. Liszt was as extroverted and gregarious as Chopin was introverted and intimate, so they were bound to clash even as they respected each other. Chopin could’ve dedicated his Op. 10 to anyone but he dedicated it to Liszt, which speaks volumes on their relationship.
One of the Etudes in the Opus, No. 12 in C Minor, is nicknamed “Revolutionary” because its composition coincides with Poland’s failed 1831 November Uprising against Russian rule. We don’t know whether the revolution was on Chopin’s mind as he composed this piece, but if it was, it must have been very personal given Chopin’s deep love for his home country.
Chopin dedicating his Op. 10 Etudes to Liszt, therefore, may have gone something like this: “Franz, I don’t know why I’m your friend and I can’t stand you, but these Etudes are very personal to me and I want you to know how I feel. I don’t know why I’m doing this, but I’m trusting you with my heart and soul.”
I think that’s beautiful.
