Chopin Nocturnes: Which are your favorites?

[billym]

I am aware that Chopin's nocturnes are discussed somewhat too frequently. But I haven't really gotten a beneficial measure of which ones knowledgeable people believe stand out the most. Please vote for your top 5. "Favorite" can mean which ones are the most meaningful for you personally as well as which ones you think are the musically best, most innovative, or most important. I cast my vote for Op 9 no 3, Op 15 no 2, Op 27 no 2, Op 48 no 1 and Op 62 no 1. I appreciate your response!

[lelle]

I believe you'll get quite evenly spread out votes with some small peaks on the most famous ones, they're all so good I happen to like some of the less famous ones, such as the first two of Op 15, the two nocturnes op 55 and Op 27 no 1. Had I been allowed a sixth vote I'd voted for Op 62 no 2 as well.

[billym]

Yes, that is already the pattern starting to unfold. I am wishing that I had left this poll open forever because there may be some traffic on the post later on.. oh well. And I'd have to agree with your assessment, they are incredible. Funny coincidence, Op 62 no 2 was my sixth choice as well!

[thirtytwo2020]

Yeah, this is hard
I was glad to see that I was not the only one voting for op 37 no 2!
Also went for both op 48 and both op 62, no 1 of which I think I might have listed even if the question had been "which is your favourite piano piece?"...

[billym]

Yes... it is way hard. I'm glad you chose Op 37 no 2. The opus 37 pair is probably the most underrated pair of nocturnes Chopin wrote. Thus I'm sad to see Op 37 no 1 with no votes.. it would have been my seventh choice probably. I'd agree with you all the way with opus 62 as well. When I was first getting into the nocturnes I didn't even get recordings for the Opus 62, (stupid me) so it wasn't until a few months later that I listened to them and man, did it blow me away. The ornaments in Op 62 no 1... to say they are beautiful is an understatement. And then Op 62 no 2 gives me the impression that Chopin somehow knew that this would be the last nocturne he would compose.. it's an appropriate farewell nocturne, so to speak. And it's absolutely sublime.

[lelle]

Yes... it is way hard. I'm glad you chose Op 37 no 2. The opus 37 pair is probably the most underrated pair of nocturnes Chopin wrote. Thus I'm sad to see Op 37 no 1 with no votes.. it would have been my seventh choice probably. I'd agree with you all the way with opus 62 as well. When I was first getting into the nocturnes I didn't even get recordings for the Opus 62, (stupid me) so it wasn't until a few months later that I listened to them and man, did it blow me away. The ornaments in Op 62 no 1... to say they are beautiful is an understatement. And then Op 62 no 2 gives me the impression that Chopin somehow knew that this would be the last nocturne he would compose.. it's an appropriate farewell nocturne, so to speak. And it's absolutely sublime.

That's exactly how I feel about the Op 62 no 2 nocturne as well. It's not even in the sixth spot because it's my sixth favorite, but because I like them all so much and I had to let one go and it happened to be that one 

Have you heard Richter's recording?

[billym]

Wow, that was the best one I've heard! I'm currently sitting in a study period and I just put this on while I was reading, but after a few seconds I had to put down the book! I'm definitely going to save this link. Astoundingly beautiful, thanks for the recommendation!

[lelle]

No problem, it's my favorite recording of that piece

Let's hope more people vote in the poll, I'm kinda curious how it'll turn out!

[billym]

No problem, it's my favorite recording of that piece

Let's hope more people vote in the poll, I'm kinda curious how it'll turn out!

I've been trying for a while to listen to more Richter. Guess I'm just having trouble finding the best recordings of his. It takes so much time! Anyhow yes, I'm not seeing the traffic I want on this page but we'll see.

[billym]

Thank you everyone who voted in this poll- I got the results I was expecting. Very nice

[anacrusis]

I voted in this poll, and I'm surprised at the final results! I thought everyone's favorites would be Op. 9 no. 1 in b flat minor, Op. 9 no. 2 in E flat, Op. 27 no. 2 in D flat, Op. 48 no. 1 in c minor and Op. posth. in c sharp minor, as those are the ones everyone wants to play. I must say I'm pretty pleased that many that are my personal favorites ended up being in the top results 

[billym]

I voted in this poll, and I'm surprised at the final results! I thought everyone's favorites would be Op. 9 no. 1 in b flat minor, Op. 9 no. 2 in E flat, Op. 27 no. 2 in D flat, Op. 48 no. 1 in c minor and Op. posth. in c sharp minor, as those are the ones everyone wants to play. I must say I'm pretty pleased that many that are my personal favorites ended up being in the top results 

Yeah, I suppose it is pretty cool that Op. 15 no. 2 and Op. 27 no. 1 are the favorites here- and the opus 62 are really respected here as well which is awesome. Glad to see there are those who have moved past the wildly overrated Op 9 no 2!