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Andrew Palmer
Group Editor
1:06 PM 8th November 2021
arts

Classical CD Review: Chopin Nocturnes Stephen Hough

 
Chopin Nocturnes Stephen Hough
Nocturnes: B flat minor Op 9 No 1; E flat major Op9 No2; B major Op 9 No 3; F major Op 15 No 1; F sharp major Op 15 No 2; G minor Op 15 No 3; C sharp minor Op 27 No 1; D flat major Op 27 No 2; B major Op 32 No 1; A flat major Op 32 No 2; G minor Op 37 No 1; G major Op 37 No 2; C minor Op 48 N0 1; F sharp minor Op 48 No 2; F minor Op 55 No 1; E flat major Op 55 No 2; B major Op 62 No 1; E major Op 62 No2. Posthumous or Misattributed: 'Lento con gran espressione' in C sharp minor ‘Nocturne’ KKIVa/16; E minor Op 72 No 1 possibly by Charlotte de Rothschild; C minor KKIVb/8 (composer unknown); Nocturne in E flat major Op 9 No 2b (additional embellishments by Chopin).
Hyperion CDA68351/2
5 Stars

www.hyperion-records.co.uk/
Available as an MP3, iTunes, CD or FLAC and ALAC formats


In this new 2-CD Hyperion recording, Stephen Hough takes a fresh approach to Chopin’s highly melodic nocturnes creating an exquisite portrait and, as one has come to expect from a pianist of Hough’s calibre, manages to show off the lyricism without being too cosy.

Hough explains in the notes about the tempi, which he takes slightly faster than other interpretations and also about Chopin’s preferred Pleyel piano which had a much faster decay of resonance than modern instruments. Hough Uses a Yamaha CFX in this recording made in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre during lockdown in July 2020.

The playing is exquisite and one breathes with his phrasing. Again, in his superb introduction, he writes that singers need to breathe, and so do pianists and he demonstrates the point brilliantly.

Hough so expressively and fluently brings each of Chopin’s melodic lines to life as the composer would have wanted. The E flat major Op 9 No 2 is articulated with such beauty and the last track it is repeated with Chopin’s embellishments. In fact the last five tracks that close this recital are described as posthumous or misattributed compositions and and they are rather attractive, especially the wedding gift composed for Chopin’s sister Ludwika in 1830, the 'Lento con gran espressione' in C sharp minor. The transition from each nocturne to the next is sublime.

This CD with its clear and precise interpretations is certainly one to have in the collection as everything is so well-considered.