Chopin - Nocturne Op. 48, No. 1 in C minor

[perprocrastinate]

Can anyone identify this interpreter for me? The site hosts anonymous recordings. I always thought it was Pollini, but listening to his rendition here on YouTube (55:03), it doesn't seem to be, since they are quite different.

https://www.ourchopin.com/musicchopin/noc48-1.mp3

[vsrinivasa]

Sorry to not help you; I can't isentify the recording. I don't think I have heard this particular one.

[apmapmapm]

The pianist is Ivan Moravec. =)

[the89thkey]

The pianist is Ivan Moravec. =)

Was going to say that when I saw your post. Yes, it does sound like Moravec. I'm not certain because Moravec's recordings are not currently in my possession, but if I had to take a guess it would be Moravec. The style is similar, the way he brings out certain phrases, etc.

[perprocrastinate]

The pianist is Ivan Moravec. =)

Thank you very much.

[onwan]

The pianist is Ivan Moravec. =)

He is native of my country! I had no idea that he is so famous in the world! I'm proud of him.

[slobone]

He is native of my country! I had no idea that he is so famous in the world! I'm proud of him.

Moravec is considered one of the world's greatest interpreters of Chopin.

[jorley]

I love this Nocturne! It sound difficult though.. I wonder, how difficult is it? Is it as hard as any of the Chopin Etudes, Scherzos or ballades? I want to learn it as soon as possible, is it better to learn something like the Barcarolle first?

[onwan]

Moravec is considered one of the world's greatest interpreters of Chopin.

What a great surprise! We're from a small unknown country! But even a small country has great guys!

I love this Nocturne! It sound difficult though.. I wonder, how difficult is it? Is it as hard as any of the Chopin Etudes, Scherzos or ballades? I want to learn it as soon as possible, is it better to learn something like the Barcarolle first?

It should be easier than ballades and scherzos and the same difficulty of some of the etudes. It is definitely the hardest of the nocturnes. I think that the Barcarolle is harder than the nocturne.

[jorley]

If I learn Op 48 1, when I am done with it, would it be okay to start the Barcarolle you think? Or would it be better to start something like the third Ballade? Are those pieces alot harder than the Nocturne or about the same?

[slobone]

The Henle website grades the difficulties of all the pieces they publish, on a scale of 1 to 9:

https://www.henle.de/en/search/index.html?Instrumentation=Keyboard%20instruments&Instrument=Piano%20solo

According to them, your nocturne is 7, and the Barcarolle and the third Ballade are the same -- 7/8, meaning somewhere between 7 and 8. (7, 8, and 9 are considered advanced levels).

[jorley]

yeah but the polonaise op 44 is also level 7, and I think that one seems harder than the Barcarolle. And the 4th Scherzo is also level 7, and that one is said to be the hardest scherzo. Anyway, if one can play the Op 48 No 1, is it okay to start the Barcarolle then?

[slobone]

Start with the left hand...