Learning Chopin Nocturne or Etude

[thepianolad]

I’ve been playing piano for quite a while now (9 years) and I want to improve my repertoire by an Etude or a harder Nocturne. The two that I would really love to learn are the opus 10 no 3 Etude, and the op 48. No. 1 nocturne. I realise that both of these require similar techniques in their main themes (elevating the melody above the harmony) and that both have fast passages in the middle, sixes in the Etude and octaves in the nocturne. I am uncertain which would be the better option to start with.

My current (higher level) repertoire consists of:
 - op 9 no 2 nocturne
 - Fantasie-impromptu
 - second movement from Beethoven’s pathetique sonata (which also deals with the technique of rising the melody above harmony).

I found these pieces somewhat easier to learn than what I expected, especially the impromptu, and I want to challenge myself further.  I do enjoy playing fast octaves, but I’ve never dealt with sixes before. If you could help me decide which one i should learn, that would be great, thanks. 
Also I would love to here suggestions for any other piano pieces that improve my repertoire, and tips for those pieces would be greatly appreciated  .

[fhfghfg]

Since you said that you enjoyed octaves but haven't really done sixths, I think you might've answered your own question since the Etude contains a lot of sixths and the nocturne doesn't. Both are really nice pieces though, and are about the same level. (Also note that imo the Fantasie-Impromptu is quite a bit harder than the Op 9 No 2 Nocturne and the Pathetique Sonata mov 2. However, it is quite easy when compared to Chopin's Scherzos, Ballades, and harder etudes. I think if that isn't too hard for you then you could probably handle one of the easier etudes.)

Another suggestion I'd like to make would be Chopin's Etude Op 25 No 5 - its really interesting honestly but its quite a bit harder than it looks.