That Thalberg guy...

I have never heard any of Thalberg's music. (don't have time to listen to the link).

What Chopin said in that letter is funny. I think the most scathing part is the part about 'playing piano with the pedal instead of the hand'. I read an article that Thalberg, after listening to Chopin play a recital, walked out onto the street and started shouting. When asked why he shouted, Thalberg said, "Ive been listening to piano all evening and now, for the sake of contrast, I want a little forte."

In another article it reads: Chopin could not tolerate pianists who took liberties with what he wrote. Once, after Sigismond Thalberg had embroidered one of his nocturnes, Chopin congratulated him, then asked coldly, "Whose composition was this?"

And in another book about Liszt it reads: Not until the last quarter of the 19th century did pianists appear who could stand comparison with him. Of Liszt’s major rivals in his lifetime, Chopin, who influenced him, gave few concerts and never toured after settling in Paris in 1831. While Chopin developed new types of piano style, Liszt was the one who created modern virtuosity. His other great rival, Sigismond Thalberg, excited the public and was an elegant virtuoso stylist, with, however, a stereotyped method: he placed the melody in the center of the keyboard (using the thumbs of both hands and the sustaining pedal to prolong the sound), ornamenting it with florid counterpoint, arpeggios and chords above and below. Neither he nor his music had much staying power.

Sooo...I am little curious now. Maybe tonight I'll try to listen to Thalberg.