Chopin Nocturne Suggestions

[ubermc721]

Hi,
I'm starting to prepare for competitions next year, and one of the requirements was a Chopin Nocturne. My teacher told me to go home and choose, but I don't know where to start. If you could give me some suggestions about what to consider (just nothing overplayed), that would help me alot! (Most technique shouldn't be a problem for me)

Thank you!

[j_menz]

Go listen to a recording of the full set. Possibly several. Score in hand. Pick one you like.

[diomedes]

Go listen to a recording of the full set. Possibly several.

If you won't be willing to put the time into listening to them (less than 2 hours of it, which if you regret, perhaps you should find another pursuit), then you won't be able to find one that you'll  dedicate the effort into learning it properly. Take the time, don't be a lazy piano player. The nature of the piano doesn't deal well with sloth as an intuitive trait.

[chopinlover01]

My personal favorite is the B major nocturne op 32/1. Aside from that, the f minor (op 55/1) and the D flat major op 27/1 are both lovely.

[8_octaves]

and the D flat major op 27/1

  yes, the D flat major op. 27/2 is very nice, Pollini plays it very masterful!!

But also the c sharp minor op. 27/1 is very nice!

Cordially, 8_oct! 

[chopinlover01]

Thanks for the polite opus corrections!

[stoat_king]

I seem to be playing nothing but Chopin Nocturnes at the moment.
My favourite at the moment is Op 9 No 3.
But then, he wrote so many beautiful nocturnes, it feels a bit arbitrary to choose one.

[pianoman98]

Op 15/1 or op 15/2 is beautiful. Also 9/1. I love op 48/1 but it's probably oberplayed.

[monelle]

You know, when someone makes themselves vulnerable by publicly asking for advice, it is cruel to take advantage of that to say mean and insulting things.  I am quite certain that if technique is not a problem for you, then you certainly are not lazy!  Youtube has quite a few complete sets you can listen to for free ... one suggestion is Vladimir Feltsman.  Have fun

[8_octaves]

... one suggestion is Vladimir Feltsman.  Have fun

...since we maybe know sources and reviews say that Feltsman recorded (the recordings are on cd and can be bought)  e.g. the famous nocturne op.9,2 E-flat-major with certain modifications, concerning the ornamentation: Chopin has given many versions of it -which (should) differ- to various students of his. Sometimes Feltsman may have played from those versions, but sometimes may even have applied own variants. The Feltsman-recordings are interesting, I think! ( But unfortunately I haven't bought them until now. )

Cordially, 8_octaves.

[amytsuda]

Take a look on Op 62 No 1. In the last Chopin competition of 2010, all of Yulianna Avdeeva, Daniil Trifonov, and Evgeni Bozhanov played it, and I was amazed how different their interpretations were from each other. And I think the piece gave a very distinctive impression of each performer. (I am such a Chopin geek, I watched most of competition on live through video streams!) It's a great piece, musically very sophisticated.