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Remembering the great Maurizio Pollini
Legendary pianist Maurizio Pollini defined modern piano playing through a combination of virtuosity of the highest degree, a complete sense of musical purpose and commitment that works in complete control of the virtuosity. His passing was announced by Milan’s La Scala opera house on March 23. Read more >>

Topic: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording  (Read 4119 times)

Offline chong777

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Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
on: December 05, 2007, 05:39:56 AM
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.

Offline jakev2.0

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #1 on: December 05, 2007, 06:04:00 AM
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!

Offline arensky

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #2 on: December 05, 2007, 09:11:42 AM
Rubnstein's are beautiful - both his early and late nocturne recordings. 

Yes.
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Offline pianistimo

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #3 on: December 05, 2007, 09:49:15 AM
Jaques-Yves Thibaudet?  He decided in conservatory that he didn't want to study anything but Chopin - and surprisingly, his teachers let him.

Offline retrouvailles

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #4 on: December 05, 2007, 09:58:50 AM
As far as complete sets go: Pires, Woodward, and Rubinstein.

And btw, his name is Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

Offline sharon_f

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #5 on: December 05, 2007, 12:21:35 PM
Rubinstein is my favorite and I would also add Vasary. Unfortunately's Vasary's set is not complete.
There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats.
Albert Schweitzer

Offline johngoh

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #6 on: December 05, 2007, 12:45:39 PM
How about Daniel Barenboim? I Have not heard his recording of him playing Chopin Nocturnes but I think his interpretation should be quite interesting?

Offline ganymed

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #7 on: December 06, 2007, 05:58:31 PM
barenboims are very nice i have his complete noctures by chopin
"We can never know what to want, because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come."

Milan Kundera,The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Offline fliszt

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #8 on: December 06, 2007, 07:01:16 PM
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..

Offline mikebechstein

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #9 on: December 07, 2007, 03:09:10 AM
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.)
Più Vivo

Offline chopininov

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #10 on: December 07, 2007, 05:47:38 PM
Jacques Louissier made some pretty interesting recordings. :D
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.

Offline indutrial

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #11 on: December 07, 2007, 07:54:20 PM
I like the Ashkenazy just fine, although there are probably better versions out there.

Offline imbetter

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #12 on: December 08, 2007, 05:40:48 PM
Feltsman's recording of the complete nocturnes is quite nice.
"My advice to young musicians: Quit music! There is no choice. It has to be a calling, and even if it is and you think there's a choice, there is no choice"-Vladimir Feltsman

Offline dan101

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #13 on: December 14, 2007, 02:02:28 PM
I grew up with the recordings of Rubinstein and still enjoy them today. He was one of a kind.
Daniel E. Friedman, owner of www.musicmasterstudios.com[/url]
You CAN learn to play the piano and compose in a fun and effective way.

Offline ahkow

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #14 on: December 14, 2007, 02:07:39 PM
I have the complete Vasary. It's a "Trio" Cd that contains the Ballades, Waltzes and Scherzos. He plays pretty well.

Offline mike_lang

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #15 on: December 14, 2007, 04:01:49 PM
I suggest Ivan Moravec's, if you've not heard it.

Michael

Offline webern78

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #16 on: December 14, 2007, 04:15:34 PM
Feltsman's recording of the complete nocturnes is quite nice.

Offline slobone

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #17 on: December 15, 2007, 07:04:14 AM
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.

Offline nocturnelover

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #18 on: December 15, 2007, 12:42:38 PM
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!

Offline franz_

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #19 on: December 15, 2007, 02:34:22 PM
Absolutely Rubinstein.
Currently learing:
- Chopin: Ballade No.3
- Scriabin: Etude Op. 8 No. 2
- Rachmaninoff: Etude Op. 33 No. 6
- Bach: P&F No 21 WTC I

Offline dinosaurtales

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #20 on: December 28, 2007, 10:23:40 PM
Even though the recordings are very old, I don't see how you can beat Rubenstein's.
So much music, so little time........

Offline johngoh

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #21 on: December 29, 2007, 12:17:33 AM
I think Joao Maria Pires does a good job out of the nocturnes too. .

Offline aewanko

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Re: Chopin's Nocturnes preferred recording
Reply #22 on: January 02, 2008, 05:27:09 AM
Trying to return to playing the piano.
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