Chopin: Nocturnes
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Free Music Notes for Chopin: Nocturnes
Free Music Review: Pollini is excellent
Hit: 5 Stars
I listened to other piano recordings before Pollini and they aren't as smooth and natural with Chopin's music. Some pianists jazz it up too much. Free Music Review: Sublime
Hit: 5 Stars
I had previously owned Chopin's nocturnes, but Pollini blows everyone else away with his elegant and touching performance. I totally recommend this for anyone interested in classical music.Free Music Review: Stunning but ...
Hit: 5 Stars
Mr Pollini certainly has a way with Chopin. His earlier recordings of the etudes and polonaises could hardly be bettered. In the nocturnes, we find crystal clear fingerwork and clarity, a sense of romance and of drama. Perhaps, though, these performances are a little unsmiling. Listeners who, like me, have found great majesty and wonderment in Claudio Arrau's readings of the nocturnes may find Mr Pollini's performances technically stunning but a little cold and measured. Perhaps they are, but repeated playing proves that there is no one way to play the nocturnes. I have come to treasure both performances.Free Music Review: A Visionary fperformance
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first purchased this recording, the rather austere interpretations disappointed me. I had been listening to the Pires earlier, and her much more traditional, romantic approach had made a deep impression(still a great accomplishment, better than almost all who precede her recording). However, after a few listenings, Pollini's incredible intellectual command and spiritual interpretation became evident. If someone has listened more romantic playing of these pieces such as Arrau's, then Pollini's may seem at first without any beauty or understanding of Chopin's intent because the doesn't linger of phrases, manipulate the tempo by rushing or slowing down in a dreamlike trance. Instead, Pollini finds the true essence in his perfect pianism and his visionary effort here. The sound of the recording is exemplary- I do wish they could have placed the microphones so as not to hear Pollini's occaisional and momentary gutteral utterances and breathing , but a small price to pay to hear Chopin's Nocturnes played with such insight, technique, and understanding. I rank this cd with his playing of the etudes, ballades, and preludes...all of the highest order.Free Music Review: He's back!
Hit: 4 Stars
These recordings represent something of a return to form for Pollini, whose recordings in recent years have often sounded as if the score had been programmed into that hi-tech Yamaha player piano. Here one senses a sophisticated musical intelligence constantly making judgments and decisions. And, of course, his technique is still highly impressive. His articulation is a thing of wonder and his structural sense is a real asset in these pieces which can often seem diffuse. Still, the performances often seem defined by what is NOT done rather than any individual touches. Rubato is at a minimum and agogics nonexistent. They are very "come scritto" in what might be considered the Toscanini tradition. As such, they would be an excellent introduction to this music for new listeners.
A number of recent recordings could be considered more individual and detailed - Ciccolini, D'Ascoli, Ohlsson, even Hewitt. Not to mention the older recordings of Arrau, Francois and the wonderfully mannered Moravec.
A note on the recording: I found is surprisingly substandard for DG - shallow and muffled. Pollini deserves better.