Quote Originally Posted by TogakureOjonin
Chopin Etudes, performed by Maurizio Pollini

This one's a personal thing. Technique, passion merge in these "studies/exercises" for the advancing pianist. Pollini's interpretations and execution send my spirit soaring. If I can play these half as well as he does someday, I will die a content man.
This (part of your) post quasi hit me between the eyes. Jezus! I have the exact same predilection for these pieces, they are equally uplifting to me when I feel down or overburdened, and I have (or rather once had) the exact same sense that if only I could master one of them, just one... I'd would give a limb (not a hand, though) in order to be able to accomplish that. But I have already comforted myself with the thought that someone on earth has mastered them. It is not Maurizio but dear old, elusive, insuferably arrogant Martha Argerich.

To think that those pieces are just 'exercises'. Yeah right...

By the way I did not know you were a musician, TogakureOjonin. Kudos to you!