One of the first recordings that earned Ivan Moravec acclaim and secured him a position among the finest pianists of the 20th century was the album of the complete Chopin Nocturnes made in 1965 in New York (Steinway) and at Vienna’s Konzerthaus (Bösendorfer) for the Connoisseur Society label. Many critics have branded this recording a benchmark and consider it the ultimate account of the Nocturnes; in the words of Henry Fogel (Fanfare): “This is playing that draws the listener deeply into the music - you are not drawn into Moravec’s achievement, but Chopin’s.” Ivan Moravec presents the Nocturnes in an admirable scale of colours and dynamics (down to astonishingly tender, barely touched tones), with the music flowing so naturally that it seems as though there are no bars or individual notes. Supraphon is rereleasing this legendary recording with a sensitively remastered sound, which brings out to the full the wealth of tone colours of Moravec’s piano.
Ivan Moravec’s account of the legendary Chopin Nocturnes, in a more colourful remastered sound.
Recorded April 1965 in St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University, New York (Nocturnes Nos 1, 4–7, 9, 13, 19, Steinway) and November 1965 in the Mozartsaal of the Konzerthaus, Vienna (Nocturnes Nos 2, 3, 8, 10–12, 14–18, Bösendorfer)
Chopin: Nocturne #1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 9/1, CT 108
Chopin: Nocturne #2 In E Flat, Op. 9/2, CT 109
Chopin: Nocturne #3 In B, Op. 9/3, CT 110
Chopin: Nocturne #4 In F, Op. 15/1, CT 111
Chopin: Nocturne #5 In F Sharp, Op. 15/2, CT 112
Chopin: Nocturne #6 In G Minor, Op. 15/3, CT 113
Chopin: Nocturne #7 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 27/1, CT 114
Chopin: Nocturne #8 In D Flat, Op. 27/2, CT 115
Chopin: Nocturne #9 In B, Op. 32/1, CT 116
Chopin: Nocturne #10 In A Flat, Op. 32/2, CT 117
Chopin: Nocturne #11 In G Minor, Op. 37/1, CT 118
Chopin: Nocturne #12 In G, Op. 37/2, CT 119
Chopin: Nocturne #13 In C Minor, Op. 48/1, CT 120
Chopin: Nocturne #14 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 48/2, CT 121
Chopin: Nocturne #15 In F Minor, Op. 55/1, CT 122
Chopin: Nocturne #16 In E Flat, Op. 55/2, CT 123
Chopin: Nocturne #17 In B, Op. 62,/1
Chopin: Nocturne #18 In E, Op. 62/2, CT 125
Chopin: Nocturne #19 In E Minor, Op. 72/1
24th June 2012
“The sound quality is startlingly good, capturing all the richness, warmth and immediacy of the two instruments..Then there’s the surely peerless singing quality of Moravec’s playing. It allows every piece simply and affectingly to weave its hypnotic, sweetly sad magic.”
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Chopin: Nocturne #1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 9/1, CT 108
