Program Notes - Chopin Marathon, 2 March 2025

Composed in 1846 and dedicated to Mme A. Veyret, Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61, stands as a unique synthesis of the polonaise and the fantasy forms. While the piece retains the characteristic meter, rhythmic elements, and some melodic aspects of the polonaise, it is defined by its fantasia-like freedom in structure. Initially conceived by Chopin as a “Fantasy,” the piece reveals his evolving style, merging the grandeur of the polonaise with the lyrical flexibility of the fantaisie.

The Polonaise-Fantaisie opens with sweeping, assertive gestures, establishing the polonaise’s dance-like character before dissolving into more fragmented, unpredictable transitions. These unusual shifts in harmony and form are emblematic of Chopin’s later style, marked by formal ambiguities and fluidity, particularly in the way the music moves in and out of the lyrical middle section. This central portion, in the distant key of B major, is tender and introspective, offering a stark contrast to the opening intensity. Here, the music unfolds in a manner reminiscent of Chopin’s Fantaisie in F minor, with descending fourths playing a prominent role.

As the piece progresses, Chopin revisits the polonaise rhythm and mood but infuses them with a more intimate, nuanced expression, particularly in the transitions and harmonic explorations that often seem to defy conventional expectations. Jeffrey Kallberg has suggested that this work marks a shift in Chopin’s compositional language, representing a bridge from his “late” style to his “last” style, a term used to describe his final creative phase. This shift, though subtle, reveals itself most vividly in the piece’s formal uncertainties and its balance between virtuosic display and lyrical depth.

The Polonaise-Fantaisie concludes with a sense of resolution, but its unconventional formal structure leaves a lingering impression of unfinished continuity, an element that defines the elusive, introspective quality of Chopin’s later works.

In sum, the Polonaise-Fantaisie stands as a remarkable exploration of form, emotion, and technical prowess, encapsulating the complex, transitional phase of Chopin’s final years. The work’s delicate interplay between the ceremonial grandeur of the polonaise and the expressive freedom of the fantasy offers a compelling glimpse into the composer’s late stylistic evolution.

Written by Phu Koanantakool