Chopin nocturnes

Thanks for all who've given your input! It looks like there are a number of good choices, and based on your feedback I think I'll start with Moravec.

Any other suggestions for Chopin's works (perhaps some of the etudes or preludes)?

Michael

Try the Ballades and the Mazurkas. If you like the Moravec Nocturnes, stay with Moravec for the Mazurkas and Ballades. On CD, Vox offers a very economical 2-CD set that will also introduce you to the marvels of Moravec's Debussy:
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=2XRANIJJQP&ean=47163510328

Supraphon offers a nice set of Chopin Preludes performed by Moravec:
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=2XRANIJJQP&ean=789368799428

For the Chopin Waltzes, try Rubinstein's performances.

I must admit to never having heard Moravec performing Chopin so cannot compare. With this outpouring of Moravec recommendations, I think I know what my next few piano CDs will be... Of the others mentioned above (or not mentioned - Busoni, Dutra, Bolet, Dutra, etc), on the CD format, I am partial to Evgeny Kissin (with Pollini coming in a close second) for the Preludes. I have always liked Pollini on the Etudes.

I do have many Moravec Lps, yes, he is good and recording is decent too.
As for Chopin Waltzes, DINU LIPATTI is the one hard to surpass, PERIOD. Trust me. After listen his Waltzes, you wont go back to any one else. a must have.

The Moravec nocturnes are great, probably definitive.

For mazurkas the greatest is Andrzej Wasowski's recording on Concord. Here's a review from the New York Times: http://homepages.kdsi.net/~sherman/wasowski.html

Wasowski also recorded the nocturnes. Both are wonderful, natural recordings.