Chopin's second Ballade is at one moment eerily placid and another frighteningly catastrophic: imagine a quiet waterfront suddenly engulfed by a horrific storm. It eventually passes, leaving hope for renewal in the wake of its utter destruction and havoc.

Chopin Ballade No 2 in F Major, Opus 38

Michael Henry Zimmerman studied piano with Anne Koscielny, Raymond Hanson, Morton Estrin and Louis Nagel. He is an alumnus of Interlochen Arts Academy and Deerfield Academy, and a graduate of Hartt College of Music (Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance). He was fortunate to have been born to musically discerning parents who wisely encouraged him to pursue graduate studies and a career in business instead of the piano. When not studying classical music, he consults to Fortune 500 businesses on matters of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing. To this day, his passion for great music survives even when his listeners do not.