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Best Complete Chopin Nocturne?

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60K views 71 replies 44 participants last post by  Pugg  
#1 ·
Hey ho people! :)

I'm looking for a good complete set of Chopin's nocturne can you give me your opinion please. Amazon links would also be much appreciated as I'm feeling especially lazy today. :rolleyes:

I'm going to be cheeky and ask two questions. :p

Off the top of your head what is your favourite piano piece?

Off to play with the ducks au revoir mes amis. :tiphat:
 
#4 ·
Thank you both! :)

I would still like people to leave their thoughts but I wanted to say thank you to thanks again to Emiellucifuge. While I was looking at the link you posted I saw and bought this... :D


Image


Arthur Rubinstein: The Complete Album Collection​

It's not "complete" it's missing a few things so say the reviews but it was still quite well priced regardless.
 
#22 ·
teccomin said:
People say Pollini's is definitive, but I am not into his interpretation.
Click to expand...
Pollini's interpretations have become a bit controversial, I believe. A lot of people prefer his performance of the "Études", because of crystalline and precise playing, but agree that other performers have done better interpretations of his other works.

As for the "Nocturnes", my current favourite is the rendition by Garrick Ohlsson, who did a fantastic cycle of the complete works (originally for Arabesque in the '80s and now available from Hyperion Records). I love his accentuation and thoughtful playing.

If Ohlsson is not your cup of tea, Martha Argerich and Maria João Pires have done great work regarding the "Nocturnes" and other Chopin pieces as well.
 
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#18 ·
Thank you all very much for your comments. The Rubinstein box is on the way and I will pick up some of these as well. I quite liked the Nelson Freire I found on YouTube thanks KV. :)

I'm looking at Weissenberg when Hilly makes such a comment I expect good things. :)
 
#19 ·
Hah. I suppose it depends somewhat on your understanding of night, and your place in it. Weissenberg is just a bit confrontational; I like it.
 
#21 · (Edited)
^^

Nyahah...yeah, that Earl sure liked his water sports...he was an avid surfer as well and loved the kayak. Hmmm, Moravec, eh? I've never heard him do them but I love his Mozart among other works and now I am intrigued as I am with the Trollmeister's favorite, too. Another one I've never heard but if he's recorded them, Hough probably would have done a fine job with them.


Oh and, Lenfer,...my girl Valentina Lisitsa has a lovely touch for Chopin overall and I'm just starting to listen now. Hope you enjoy. Happy listening.
 
#24 ·
I think Rubinstein will always be the "classic measuring stick" so to speak. You can't go wrong with him and you should be very happy with that set.

I own quite a few recordings of the nocturnes: Weissenberg, Ohlsson, Freire, Pires, Arrau, Barenboim, Ashkenazy, Biret. They are all fine recordings. I haven't heard Pollini or Wild and may have to check them out one day.

Out of all of them I still frequently reach for Rubinstein. My other personal favorite who wasn't mentioned who probably gets just as many listens by me is Samson Francois. Incredible Tone, Touch & Technique. He's considered eccentric and seems sometimes forgotten as a great interpreter of Chopin, but I feel his Nocturnes reach deep inside to a place that few dare to venture in the dark of night.
 
#25 ·
Thanks you! :)

The Rubinstein box is here but I was not feeling great today and I have just opened it. It's nice and I can't wait to get into it but adding the tracks to my computer library is going to be a nightmare. :confused::confused:

I really appriacite everyone's suggestions. I've listened to classical music all my life but I didn't take it "seriously" until now and I am nowhere near as informed as you lot. I don't know what I'd do without you all. :kiss: :tiphat:
 
#28 · (Edited)
Not my favourite music, I bought Claudio Arrau's Philips set when it was issued on LP and, as I almost always used to buy on recommendation, there must have been a reason. Personally, I find his interpretation a litle too 'romantic' - a bit too much rubato - but that's just me. I'd love to hear Keith Jarrett play them.

Favourite piano piece. It varies so much. Could be Schubert D960 one day, Messiaen Vingt regards the next, Goldberg variations the next, Stockhausen's Klavierstuck X the next [seriously - it's a terrifically exciting piece].
 
#30 ·
I'd recommend Pollini or Arrau in this case. I've always preferred their piano playing above others, and for Chopin, Pollini is quickly becoming my favorite interpreter. His playing, to me, is exquisite and precise while still being emotional and involving.

My favorite piano piece? That's so difficult to answer but I'm going to venture out and say something not often heard: Tchaikovsky's June: Barcarolle from The Seasons.
 
#31 ·
Thanks Ludwig and may I say welcome to the forum. :)

I've been putting off buying Pollini's Chopin box on Amazon since I started this thread. I go to buy it and then something else catches my eye. :eek: I will get it at some point though. I hadn't considered Arrau as I haven't heard much of his work I'm ashamed to say but I'll look around YouTube and see what I can find.

I have a fondness for Tchaikovsky so that is a particularly interesting choice. I tip my hat to you sir :tiphat:
 
#33 ·
Thanks for your kind welcome!

I know how you feel, browsing Amazon sometimes leads one to many other choices that can seem overwhelming at times. Arrau's playing is superb, but recordings of him tend to be littered with his heavy breathing that seem to add a distortion or fuzz to notes and chords. I listen to music mostly through headphones, so it can become very distracting to the point of irritation if I'm not in the mood for it. This is something to consider if you listen similarly and if so, go for the Pollini versions as DG's mastering provides crystal clear sound.

Glad you like Tchaikovsky and my choice of him, an equal tip of the hat to you too!
 
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#34 ·
I have spent some time to listen to many different performers.
Maurizio Pollini and Yundi Li are my top 2 favorites, although Abbey Simon is superb as well.

Since Simon and Yundi weren't mentioned in this thread, I am curious if anybody agrees....
 
#35 · (Edited)
Yundi Li has IMO developed from a somewhat robotic style into something more interesting in later years, but I haven´t heard his Nocturnes. His DG Fantaisie Impromptu is great, and his Prokofiev 2nd Concerto likewise (unconventional tempi, though).

Abbey Simon did some great Ravel, for sure, but I haven´t heard those by him either.
 
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#36 ·
Moravec

I'm not an expert, but I can say that I'm very much enjoying Ivan Moravec's recordings of Chopin Nocturnes. Beautiful music, and the 1965 analog recordings were remastered by Supraphon in 2012 to yield an excellent sounding set of 2 CDs.
 
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