This album was recorded in February at Studio I, Flagey in Belgium, with Frédéric Briant as the recording engineer.
Composition History
Chopin's 21 Nocturnes, composed throughout his life, do not form a single cycle but rather reflect his evolving style from 1827 to 1846.
Compositional Technique
Chopin's Nocturnes feature a wide variety of tonalities, with almost equal proportions of major and minor keys, across sixteen different keys.
Performer Biography
François Dumont was chosen by conductor Leonard Slatkin to play and record both Ravel concerti with the Orchestre National de Lyon.
Compositional Technique
Chopin's Nocturnes often allude to other musical forms like the Ballade, Choral, Barcarole, March, and Mazurka, adding complexity to the genre.
Performer Biography
François Dumont, the pianist on this album, has won prizes in major international piano competitions including the Chopin Competition and the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Chopin transformed the Nocturne from an intimate salon piece into a masterful and often dramatic landscape, inspiring later composers like Scriabin and Fauré.
