Chopin - 21 Nocturnes [Rev]
I originally bought this as a double cassette, and played it to death, it was my first real introduction to Chopin's twilight world of the Nocturnes, one after another i was mesmerized by their consistent beauty, not a dud among them, Rev is an underestimated Pianist, she doesn't have the big profile or fame about her, but neither does she have a big ego either, she just quietly lets Chopin do the talking, it's very disarming, and it suites these Nocturnes, the less you make 'universal statements' about them, the more universal they become!, the low key approach lets this music creep up into your heart unawares, i played this over a two day period, disc one yesterday, and disc two today, it's important to not get too saturated by them, this is my favourite set of Nocturnes, now that's really saying something considering the competition.
Livia Rev is Hungarian, she was born in 1916, and is now not far off 100!, she made this recording in 1988, the front cover is a painting by Alphonse Osbert called 'Songs Of The Night', very appropriate, though i'm not a great fan of the painting.
All of these Nocturnes were so beautiful, it was disc one that impressed me the most, with Nocturnes 8, 10 & 13 that were the most treasurable, and i'd like to give my feelings on each of these three performances,
Nocturne 8 - Probably my favourite Chopin Nocturne, there's a gently rolling and mesmerizing repetition in the left hand, very beautiful, it ebbs and flows, in speed and volume, it's the foundation over which the right hand plays the melody and sings its heart out, the key is developing a real intensity, and Rev really does that, she really hits the coda, as the Nocturne descends into the night [4:29+].
Nocturne 10 - A nice hesitant start, so when the second part of the melody is played just a touch faster, it gives a sense of momentum, and Rev does indeed gradually speed things up ever so imperceptibly, i like her central agitated section, where she gradually turns the angry screws tighter, [2:00-3:19], so when the 'release' back to the original melody comes [3:19+], wow what a release of tension it is!.
Nocturne 13 - The only one of these three pieces in the Minor key [C Minor], a lugubrious Nocturne, and stated rather stoically, the central section is lighter [1:44-3:51], or rather at first is, it develops a boisterousness [3:00+], until it comes to a zenith [3:37-3:51], and returns not quite back to its lugubrious first incantation, the central section changes its feel, the second helping is more intense, more lyrical, more serious, just more lovely, it's a wonder how Rev just gets this 'right'.
Nocturne 8 - Probably my favourite Chopin Nocturne, there's a gently rolling and mesmerizing repetition in the left hand, very beautiful, it ebbs and flows, in speed and volume, it's the foundation over which the right hand plays the melody and sings its heart out, the key is developing a real intensity, and Rev really does that, she really hits the coda, as the Nocturne descends into the night [4:29+].
Nocturne 10 - A nice hesitant start, so when the second part of the melody is played just a touch faster, it gives a sense of momentum, and Rev does indeed gradually speed things up ever so imperceptibly, i like her central agitated section, where she gradually turns the angry screws tighter, [2:00-3:19], so when the 'release' back to the original melody comes [3:19+], wow what a release of tension it is!.
Nocturne 13 - The only one of these three pieces in the Minor key [C Minor], a lugubrious Nocturne, and stated rather stoically, the central section is lighter [1:44-3:51], or rather at first is, it develops a boisterousness [3:00+], until it comes to a zenith [3:37-3:51], and returns not quite back to its lugubrious first incantation, the central section changes its feel, the second helping is more intense, more lyrical, more serious, just more lovely, it's a wonder how Rev just gets this 'right'.
