Frédéric Chopin - The Complete Nocturnes
During Chopin’s lifetime the Nocturnes were his most popular pieces. They are some of his most intimate and personal utterances… wistful, reflective, melancholic and serenely joyful. All are sensuously beautiful, suffused with elegance and deeply poetic impulses.
The Nocturnes are suggestive of the twilight or evening and are sometimes called “night songs,” creating an atmosphere of yearning nostalgia, aptly suited to Chopin’s special gifts.
Eighteen of the Nocturnes were published in Chopin’s lifetime (1810-1849) and two more were published posthumously.
Even at 20, Chopin was already a brilliant composer, but he continued to develop his craft becoming more subtle, sophisticated and harmonically complex. He also showed more contrapuntal development and awareness of structure than his contemporaries.
Chopin understood the possibilities of the piano better than any other composer. All of his works are pianistic at the core. His reputation as the greatest pianist of his time was based on a very few public appearances, mostly in Paris. Most of his performances were not open to public and took place in the intimate atmosphere of a salon, or private homes with only a handful of attendees. According to reliable sources, he never played loudly and his dynamics ranged from mezzo forte to an almost inaudible pianissimo. To appreciate Chopin’s playing, the listener had to be in close proximity. His music like his personality was very intimate. Nothing is ever audacious. Emotions are never paraded, instead always kept private, subtle, and understated.
This album was mastered with RealFeel by Rob Fraboni
RealFeel is a process that causes digital to feel like analog. It restores emotion to music. It makes the listener a participant rather than an observer in the listening experience.
TRACK LISTS
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CD 1
1. Nocturne No.1 in B Flat Minor, Op.9 No.1
2. Nocturne No.2 in E Flat, Op.9 No.2
3. Nocturne No.3 in B, Op.9 No.3
4. Nocturne No.4 in F, Op.15 No.1
5. Nocturne No.5 in F Sharp, Op.15 No.2
6. Nocturne No.6 in G Minor, Op.15 No.3
7. Nocturne No.7 in C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.1
8. Nocturne No.8 in D Flat, Op.27 No.2
9. Nocturne No.9 in B, Op.32 No.1
10. Nocturne No.10 in A Flat, Op.32 No.2
CD 2
1. Nocturne No.11 in G Minor, Op.37 No.1
2. Nocturne No.12 in G, Op.37 No.2
3. Nocturne No.13 in C Minor, Op.48 No.1
4. Nocturne No.14 in F Sharp Minor, Op.48 No.2
5. Nocturne No.15 in F Minor, Op.55 No.1
6. Nocturne No.16 in E Flat, Op.55 No.2
7. Nocturne No.17 in B, Op.62 No.1
8. Nocturne No.18 in E, Op.62 No.2
9. Nocturne No.19 in E Minor, Op.72 No.1
10. Nocturne No.20 in C Sharp Minor, Op. posth
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