Chopin - 21 Nocturnes [Barenboim]Here's Chopin's 21 pieces of 'night' music, i'm very partial to this music, and i have quite a number of recordings of the Nocturnes, this is one of my very favourites.
In case your wondering, this DG entree reissue is only a one disc selection, but i'm using this booklet with a complete set of the Nocturnes by Barenboim, mainly because i love the booklet photo shot, again it's a gorgeous black and white study, lovely lighting, very moody, i love it! [it doesn't say who it's by].
The 21 Nocturnes are endlessly fascinating, and a phenomenal variety too, it seems like i discover a different favourite each time i listen to them, this time i especially liked Nocturnes 8 & 10-11, with Nocturne 8 really hitting the mark, it's a very dreamy piece of music, the intro in the left hand naturally becomes the accompaniment, and i would have loved Chopin to make more of this lovely intro, certainly longer, the tune is so enchanting, and Chopin's ability to hit a note, and let it hang in the air, little hesitations tease, this Nocturne seems to benefit from beautiful rubato, after a slightly more fiery middle section, comes a slowing down [4:21-4:49], notice the up/down the keyboard moment [4:36-4:41], and then comes the delicious coda [4:50-5:29], the slow dropping down the keyboard as the day trickles away into the night, a real magic from Barenboim & Chopin.
Here's Barenboim playing this Nocturne live on YouTube.
