Chopin The 21 Nocturnes (recording of the Century : Claudio Arrau)

Chopin’s music takes me back to my days when my father sat in his green chair and listened to WGKA in Atlanta, on his old fashioned radio. The radio had a phonograph inside and Daddy sat a lamp on the cover to read his newspaper by. He always listened to classical music, and he taught his children who the composers were, what the pieces were, the instruments. He also taught us art and literature. Great literature. Daddy never went to college, and worked as a switchman for the railroad. He was the kindest, most loving father.

00:00:00 --- Nocturne no. 1 in B-flat minor op. 9 no. 1 00:05:49 --- Nocturne no. 2 in E-flat major op. 9 no. 2 00:10:30 --- Nocturne no. 3 in B major op. 9 no. 3 00:17:48 --- Nocturne no. 4 in F major op. 15 no. 1 00:22:55 --- Nocturne no. 5 in F-sharp major op. 15 no. 2 00:26:43 --- Nocturne no. 6 in G minor op. 15 no. 3 00:31:28 --- Nocturne no. 7 in C-sharp minor op. 27 no. 1 00:36:56 --- Nocturne no. 8 in D-flat major op. 27 no. 2 00:43:18 --- Nocturne no. 9 in B major op. 32 no. 1 00:49:00 --- Nocturne no. 10 in A-flat major op. 32 no. 2 00:54:20 --- Nocturne no. 11 in G minor op. 37 no. 1 01:01:37 --- Nocturne no. 12 in G major op. 37 no. 2 01:08:44 --- Nocturne no. 13 in C minor op. 48 no. 1 01:15:06 --- Nocturne no. 14 in F-sharp minor op. 48 no. 2 01:22:57 --- Nocturne no. 15 in F minor op. 55 no. 1 01:28:42 --- Nocturne no. 16 in E-flat major op. 55 no. 2 01:34:16 --- Nocturne no. 17 in B major op. 62 no. 1 01:42:01 --- Nocturne no. 18 in E major op. 62 no. 2 01:49:14 --- Nocturne no. 19 in E minor op. posth. 01:53:30 --- Nocturne no. 20 in C-sharp minor op. posth. 01:58:00 --- Nocturne no. 21 in C minor op. posth. (ends at 02:01:40)

In my twenties these pieces helped me roam freely in my thoughts, to ruminate, to stare into the void, barely touching their surface… now I’m nearly fifty, and the nocturnes stand in their own dignity & purity, not merely as means to contemplate but as abstract & sublime entities, with countless aesthetic marvels and ingenious merits, intricately crafted and woven, claiming, almost unconditionally, my worship in its entirety, holding captive my unwavering attention withal.

I have been listening to baroque, classical, and romantic music since I was a teenager, and was introduced to it by a set of teachers at my highschool who were determined to pass on to future generations the great works of art of Western Civilization. In class, we read the classics of the Western canon of literature, we listened to the great composers, we studied the great works of art, and we contemplated the great works of philosophy, from Plato to Sartre. I began collecting records shortly afterwards, and attended concerts when possible. Like everyone, I have my favourite composers, and favourite pieces, that I return to again and again, because they bring such pleasure and speak to a side of me that philosophy can not reach. Four decades after the close of the final lecture of that remarkable class, and I am still listening to the music that I first heard there, among my classmates When I first heard Beethoven, Brahms, and Wagner it was like my head cleared of an impenetrable fog that had enveloped it since birth -- the music electrified me, and I've been awake to its beauty ever since The men who taught the class are now old, many have passed away, but the legacy of their teaching remains with me Chopin was one of the composers that I discovered as a result of that class, and I have been enjoying his company ever since The only thing greater than the magnificence of great architecture, art, literature,and music is the One who made all things by the word of His power -- Jesus Christ the Lord

Loin d’être un homme violent et passionné ne jouant jamais les Éminences ou les caciques qui n’ont plus rien à faire entendre il a su par la magie de son extraordinaire toucher fuir mille funestes entourages pour nous offrir avec Simplicité et Amour des Grands moments de vie magiques. Un travailleur acharné qui suscitera 10 000ans encore une admiration passionnée, mais aussi de l’affection. Tel était l’homme que je n’ai jamais connu; car trop jeune.

Arrau is amazing and I have always admired and respected and followed him for so many years! His performance of these Nocturnes is outstanding to say the least!

Le meilleur ! le plus sensible : la référence absolue

This music has become an integral part of my life.

Tecnique is to art as science is to faith.and arrau in chopin conjugates both.what a masterpiece!

There is ONLY one Claudio Arrau!!! Thank you Neil...

Just the first notes of the whole set show you a true master at work...

There's no one like Arrau... muscular yet lyrical. Always so much clarity in the voices.

Nie jestem zdolna oderwać się od tej muzyki, która zabiera mnie w świat doznań nie do opisania.

Neil Richard: thank you very, very, very, ... very much!!!! By the way, haver heard Arrau playing Beethoven Sonatas? It's simply divine!!

The Great Maestro . Claudio Arrau in all my soul. Rest in Peace. ㅠㅠㅠ

Oh, yo -de mi hablo-, agradezco que en mi vida ocurra oir a Claudio Arrau: nunca he escuchado a dios ninguno pasear dedos por tecleado ( y con a piés, pedales), pero a él, sí. Lo que hace, registro de ésta grabación o documenta, es milagro: la música inventa el 'espíritu' sentimental: en Re menor; moderato cantabile, y relativos modulados... Sólo quién puede ser Nadie como él frasea cada nota así.

Thank you very much for this. 🙏💎🩵

클라우디오 애라우? 님 별님 되셨지만 사랑합니다. 당신의 피아노 소리에 매일 감동에 살아요. 느므 좋쟎아...

Божественно красивая музыка и исполнение!

ESTUPENDO. Gracias Sr. Arrau. Usted fue y sigue siendo una gran fuente de felicidad.