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Brigitte Engerer: Chopin Nocturnes

Carlton | CT, USA | 06/03/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Brigitte Engerer: Chopin Nocturnes





The development of the genre, nocturne, as an independent piece for piano is credited to Irish composer John Field. He was a student of Italian composer-pianist Muzio Clementi. Field's nocturnes, although interesting, do not approach the artistic level of those composed by Chopin.

During his lifetime the nocturnes were Chopin's most popular works; and with good reason. Europe in the 1830's and 1840's saw the Romantic Movement reach its zenith. Chopin's nocturnes had all the ingredients for success. The slow tempi, beautiful melodies, audacious harmonic ingenuity, sentimental and nostalgic echoes, intimate yet exotic settings, sultry and seductive episodes full of requited and unrequited passions, epitomized the ideals and excesses of that era. The fact that Chopin avoided any connection with the Romantic Movement, never dissuaded the public, in his time or since, from believing that his music crystallized the ideals of Romanticism.



This double CD, marketed as the 1+1 series from Harmonia mundi, is quite surprising. It is also a good value. As a Chopin devotee for almost 50 years, I have purchased many LPs and CDs in search of new artists and interpretations.

Obviously there are many choices regarding Chopin's Nocturnes: Rubinstein, Arrau, Ashkenazy, Pires, Barenboim, Moravec, Novaes, Rev, Stott, Biret, Leonskaja, Vasary, Harasiewicz, d'Ascoli and others. However, I must say that Brigitte Engerer's reading of these wonderful pieces is one of the best I've ever heard. Yes, someone might quibble here or there regarding a particular nocturne or two. But, overall Engerer's recording belongs in the upper strata. Her selfless devotion to the music is apparent throughout.



There are a couple of outstanding performances that, alone, are worth the price of the CD. Engerer's reading of the enchanting Nocturne Op 37 n 2 is quite distinctive. The titanic Op 48 n 1, is played with a depth, majesty and, in the reprise, an urgency that few others equal. The Op 55 n 2 eclipses every other recording for my taste. And that includes the much vaunted recording of Ignaz Friedman and even the absolutely magnificent reading by Ivo Pogorelich.

I think any admirer of Chopin's Nocturnes will find this recording very satisfying and enjoyable.

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