NOTATIO

With other composers than Chopin, how are we to know when an example falls into 1 or 2 rather than 3?

Notwithstanding some minor engraving issues, I much prefer the balance of the second. The first is too high-contrast and light, especially when compared to the text font, and I think the time signature being larger than the staff only looks appropriate when hand-written.

No singer worth their salt would breathe in the middle of a word like that--slur or not. And, of course, the simple breath mark is far less obtrusive if that is what is desired.

And here is one of the few times you'll find "instrumental" articulations in vocal music, and smartly so as well (m. 28, lower three parts), from Josef Rheinberger, cut from much of the same cloth as Brahms.

The most egregious offense in this category has come from certain composers for the voice (Vaughan Williams and Rossini come to mind at once) that use slurs in this manner. Legato is already assumed in vocal music unless otherwise notated, and we phrase with the text or with a need for oxygen anywa...

I think your comment is very perceptive, Schonbergian. A kind of heaviness completely at odds with the style comes over such music when those those long slurs are added. But do most current composers use slurs to show phrases rather than legato? Perhaps those that do feel that it is impossible for ...

Although I am not an exceptionally skilled pianist, I've noticed that playing from urtext editions of, say, Beethoven (with the legato groups clearly marked out as defined here) feels far more natural and "right" than the heavily edited, early 20th century editions where one big slur is us...

Are the ugly slurs still unchangeable? IMO, this is the biggest barrier to me using Dorico or recommending it to others.

I agree with John about the slurs, and also believe they are too tapered. I think a more even distribution of weight across the entire slur is the most appealing, and have witnessed this in my favourite hand-engraving.

I feel as though the noteheads could be larger and fill the staff more.

I like the balance of the flat and natural, but feel the sharp could be a tad darker overall.