Chopin's nocturnes were inspired by his love for singing and opera, with melodies reminiscent of bel canto operatic arias.
Composition History
Chopin initially had an ambivalent relationship with the waltz, struggling to recognize it as a serious genre, which led him to not publish more than half of his waltz compositions.
Composer Biography
Chopin dedicated his Nocturnes, Op. 9, to Marie Pleyel, an outstanding pianist and wife of piano manufacturer Camille Pleyel, with whom Chopin had close personal and business ties.
Composer Biography
Chopin was a brilliant pianist but preferred playing in intimate settings with familiar faces rather than on large stages.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in two different locations: Bethanienkirche Leipzig in 2020 and Mendelssohnsaal Gewandhaus zu Leipzig in 2021, both using a Steinway D piano.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Chopin's music was considered so poetic that Heinrich Heine, a German poet, stated that Chopin's true fatherland was "the dream-realm of poetry."
Interpretation
Pianist Viacheslav Apostel-Pankratowsky chose the pieces on this album to form a continuous narrative, inviting listeners to imagine a story.
