Chopin's Nocturne in D Flat Major, Op 27 No 2

[pytheamateur]

This is one of my favourite pieces.  Does anyone know whether there is an alternative acceptable version for the first half of Bar 56? The standard one for the melody seems to be B Flat-C Flat-G-Flat (as sugggested three different editions that I have).

However, I've heard a variant, which is B Flat-C Flat-B Flat-A-Flat-B Flat-C Flat, played by the likes of Yundi Li, Ilya Itin and Freddy Kempf (as seen on Youtube).  Interestingly, cases where this variant was played seemed all to be live recordings, whereas in all the 8 studio recordings I have of the piece (including the one by Yundi Li!) only the standard version was played.

Does anyone have the Paderewski or the Ekier edition to check?  I wonder whether it was just a memory lapse when the pianists got carried away!

[starstruck5]

I have the Paderewski Edition. The first half of bar 56 is Bb -Cb-Gb

[pytheamateur]

I have the Paderewski Edition. The first half of bar 56 is Bb -Cb-Gb

Thanks for checking.  Unless the Ekier edition says otherwise, I think I can safely assume that those pianists were playing wrong notes in bar 56.  It's interesting that they all had a lapse at that point.

[pytheamateur]

I have just received the Ekier edition.  There's no evidence whatsoever of a variation in bar 56.  So Yundi Li, Ilya Itin and Freddy Kempff's playing is completely baseless.  The only explanation I can think of is that they were so overwhelmed with emotion at that point that they turned themselves into jazz/pop pianists.