This double album from pianist Stephen Hough is a truly complete set of Chopin Nocturnes, including not only the complete canon but also an unpublished early work, a piece written out by Chopin but apparently composed by one of his students as part of a teaching exercise, and a spurious work published in Russia as a "Nocturne oublié." Chopin buffs may want the recording for these extra works alone. As for the rest, reactions may depend on whether a listener prefers a "subjective" or "objective" interpretation of Chopin, for ...
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This double album from pianist Stephen Hough is a truly complete set of Chopin Nocturnes, including not only the complete canon but also an unpublished early work, a piece written out by Chopin but apparently composed by one of his students as part of a teaching exercise, and a spurious work published in Russia as a "Nocturne oublié." Chopin buffs may want the recording for these extra works alone. As for the rest, reactions may depend on whether a listener prefers a "subjective" or "objective" interpretation of Chopin, for Hough tends strongly toward the latter pole. His tempos are on the quick side, and he is sparing in his use of the pedal, often sustaining notes with his phrasing instead. His playing is understated, maybe too understated for those raised on the likes of Horowitz, but even those may admit that Hough is at his best in the Nocturnes, pieces that contain a minimum of heroism and a maximum of delicate shading and subtle contrast that reward the kind of clarity this pianist provides....
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