Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording

[chong777]

Hi all,
 How do you find Pollini's Chopin's nocturnes interpretation? Or do you prefer Rubinstein, Cortot, Pires, Arrau, Ashkenasy, others recordings?

 Would you rate Pollini's playing a good buy in this recording?

Thank you.

[jakev2.0]

Rubnstein's are beautiful - both his early and late nocturne recordings.  Cortot and Arrau are also superb.

Pollini is pretty bland and uncreative. There are much more interesting interpreters. Ashkenazy is ok. Pires is adventurous and worth listening to, but a bit over-the-top at times.

Honourable mentions:

Hofmann's numerous recordings of 9/2, 15/2, 27/2 (Marston Vol 5) from the mid-1930s all exhibit mesmerizing virtuosity and stunning individuality.

Friedman's 55/2. One of the greatest nocturne recordings ever made. Rubinstein's sounds lacking when compared side-by-side! Horowitz's late recording is comparably moving.

Moiseiwitsch: 9/2, 37/2, 62/2, 72/1 (spread over a couple decades and many releases). Huge shame that he didn't do a full set!

[arensky]

Rubnstein's are beautiful - both his early and late nocturne recordings. 

Yes.

[pianistimo]

Jaques-Yves Thibaudet?  He decided in conservatory that he didn't want to study anything but Chopin - and surprisingly, his teachers let him.

[retrouvailles]

As far as complete sets go: Pires, Woodward, and Rubinstein.

And btw, his name is Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

[sharon_f]

Rubinstein is my favorite and I would also add Vasary. Unfortunately's Vasary's set is not complete.

[johngoh]

How about Daniel Barenboim? I Have not heard his recording of him playing Chopin Nocturnes but I think his interpretation should be quite interesting?

[ganymed]

barenboims are very nice i have his complete noctures by chopin

[fliszt]

hmm i think Ashkenazy does a pretty good job on the ballades, not the nocturnes.

for the nocturnes i think E.Leonskaya is really good, her rubato is amazing..

[mikebechstein]

For complete (or almost) sets

Rubinstein, old or new, is right at the top, but not on his own. His 1960’s recording is probably my overall favorite.

Barenboim is much better in some than others but good overall.

Pires is a bit bitty as well but also good.

Arrau is beautiful and dark but, for me, does not make me listen again and again.

I hear good things about Hewitt but I’ve yet to hear that recording.

Consistently good is the so far unmentioned Livia Rev. I think she is generally underated and her Nocturnes is the best recording of her that I’ve heard. It is very subtle and definitely inspires further listening. (She is slightly better in the early pieces than the late ones.)

[chopininov]

Jacques Louissier made some pretty interesting recordings.

[indutrial]

I like the Ashkenazy just fine, although there are probably better versions out there.

[imbetter]

Feltsman's recording of the complete nocturnes is quite nice.

[dan101]

I grew up with the recordings of Rubinstein and still enjoy them today. He was one of a kind.

[ahkow]

I have the complete Vasary. It's a "Trio" Cd that contains the Ballades, Waltzes and Scherzos. He plays pretty well.

[michael_langlois]

I suggest Ivan Moravec's, if you've not heard it.

Michael

[webern78]

Feltsman's recording of the complete nocturnes is quite nice.

[slobone]

I have a recording of Rubenstein made in about 1937 which I cherish. But I have to LOL every time I see the cover -- it says "The Young Rubenstein". He was 50 at the time!

But I really think my favorite is Arrau. Some people find his interpretations a bit over-studied -- he perhaps puts a little too much into every bar. But I think it's fascinating to hear how much a really first-rate musical intelligence can achieve by concentrating so intensely on such great pieces. It opened my mind to some of the possibilities that I can strive for in my own playing.

[nocturnelover]

Chopin's Nocturnes are my absolute favourite pieces! In my opinion the best interpretation or at least my favourite is Idil Biret's. I dislike Arrau's *shudder* but I think Ashkenazy also does them well!

[franz_]

Absolutely Rubinstein.

[dinosaurtales]

Even though the recordings are very old, I don't see how you can beat Rubenstein's.

[johngoh]

I think Joao Maria Pires does a good job out of the nocturnes too. .

[aewanko]

Absolutely Rubinstein.