Frédéric Chopin played rarely. […] Lizst, on the other hand, was always playing, well or not. On a May Evening, between eleven and midnight, the society was held in the grand salon. […] Liszt was playing a Chopin’s Nocturne and, as he was used to, was playing it in his own way, mingling trills, tremolos, and some “points d’orgue” which were not there originally. On several occasions, Chopin gave signs of impatience ; finally, out of his nerves, he came close to the piano and said to Liszt with his english phlegm :

– Please, my dear, if you honor me by playing one of my pieces of music, play it by the book or play something else : only Chopin can change Chopin.

- Well, play it yourself ! said Liszt, standing up being a little upset.

- Certainly, said Chopin.

At that time, the light was extinguished by a dizzy butterfly which had come there to burn its wings. It was going to be relight.

- No ! exclaimed Chopin ; on the contrary, turn off all the candles ; the moonlight is enough.

Then he played… he played a complete hour. […] The Audience, in a silent ecstasy, was barely breathing, and when the spell ended, all eyes were filled in tears, particularly those of Liszt. He shook Chopin in his arms as exclaiming :

- Ah ! my friend, you were right! The work of a genius like yours are sacred, it is a desecration to touch it. You are a true poet and I am only a saltimbanque.

- Come on ! returned strongly Chopin, we each have our style, and that’s it. You do know that nobody in the world can play Weber and Beethoven as you can. Oh, I beg you, play the adagio in C-sharp minor of Beethoven, but do it seriously, as you can do when you want.

Liszt played this adagio and with all his heart. […] It was not an elegy, it was a tragedy.

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Further information on Wikipedia [en]
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