A little night music

I learned to play Chopin's Etude in E (Op. 10, No. 3) my freshman year of college, and ladies in gentlemen, let me just tell you: It was a bitch to learn. The scary-ass, frenetic chords in the middle were tough to master, for sure, but the softer parts were almost more difficult. They take great control: Play one note in the right hand too loudly, and you've ruined the whole thing. At least that's how I feel about it.

The muscle memory is only part of it, of course. You have to get the rubato just right. Some pianists take this stretching of the tempo way too far, and the music ends up sounding all schmaltzy. And turning Chopin into a soap opera is a crime against humanity.

I can't decide which of these versions of the piece I like best.

First, Horowitz:

Then, this cat:

And finally, Rubinstein (if it really is him; it sounds like him, but I'm a little wary considering the person who posted this got the key wrong):

So, I'm torn. I like everything about the Horowitz version except the beginning, which is too fast for my taste. Then again, who am I to criticize Horowitz?!?

The third version is closest to how I play the piece.

My parents are visiting in May and are bringing my keyboard with them. God, I can barely wait. This has been the second-longest month of my life.