Stephen Hough’s reticence does Chopin’s genius an enormous service in Chopin Nocturnes, particularly when his taking part in is so refined










Stephen Hough  Chopin Nocturnes  Hyperion (2 CDs), out October 29

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Like a whole lot of us, I preserve questioning how I may have frittered away all that point throughout lockdown. One who needn’t is our best residing pianist Stephen Hough, 60 in just a few weeks, who, when prevented from performing reside, discovered and recorded seven new CDs.

This whole set of Chopin nocturnes, set down in wonderful sound in London’s Queen Elizabeth Corridor on the peak of the pandemic, is a sure-fire winner, match to be positioned alongside recordings by giants of the previous, resembling my specific favorite, Arthur Rubinstein.

As all the time, Hough goes again to the composer’s intentions, and the inventive world between 1830 and 1846, when these 18 items had been composed.

As always, Stephen Hough (above) goes back to the composer’s intentions, and the creative world between 1830 and 1846, when these 18 pieces were composed.

As all the time, Stephen Hough (above) goes again to the composer’s intentions, and the inventive world between 1830 and 1846, when these 18 items had been composed.

He writes: ‘Chopin wrote no operas regardless that that kind was his favorite, and singers not pianists had been his musical heroes.’ These nocturnes actually are songs with out phrases. 

As Hough explains: ‘A corpus of among the most interesting operatic arias ever written. Right here bel canto melodies abound, dramatic, tender and tragic, with virtuoso ornament paying homage to a coloratura diva.’

Hough provides each an excellent scrub to take away all of the outdated varnish of deviant performing custom, notably spray-on romantic extra, and the outcomes are revelatory.

Hough additionally takes the view that pianos of the time didn’t permit for romantic lingering and languishing. So the tempi listed here are usually faster than regular, giving every phrase a muscle tone usually missing in additional indulgent performances.

So even when you recognize the nocturnes (or suppose you do), and are nicely stocked with recordings, make room for this one, augmented as it’s by 5 different charming however spurious nocturnes, as soon as considered by Chopin.

Some pianists suppose a Chopin recital is all about them, and their extreme poetic emotions. Hough thinks these nocturnes, to which Chopin was devoted, are all concerning the composer. 

His reticence does Chopin’s genius an enormous service, particularly when his taking part in is so refined, and his dynamics and tempi so completely judged. 

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