Chopin nocturnes


I am looking for suggestions for CD recordings of Chopin's nocturnes. I prefer impeccable sonics coupled with a spectacular performance with a lot of emotion. While I'm at it, I might as well ask for other Chopin recordings that you think are particularly outstanding.

Thanks in advance,

Michael
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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.
Maria Joao Pires' "Nocturnes" of 1996 were reviewed by Grmaophone as being the best recording since Arthur Rubinstein. I agree. Deutsche Grammophon 447 096-2.
Dinu Lipatti simply owns the waltzes. However, it is a mono recording, though relatively clean and good piano tone, so if you can, give it a listen first.

For mazurkas, I love Kapell on RCA, but again, sound quality may be an issue (again, not bad, but they are 50s recording and not Living Stereo issue) and it's not a complete set. Transcendent recording of sonata #3 should help to ease the pain on sonic front. Sonata #2 which is also included, has terrible sonics, unfortunately, and I prefer Michelangeli, Novaes and Sokolov anyways.

Pollini is superb in polonaises and is in excellent sound on DG.

For ballades, Sviatoslav Richter is unequalled. #1 and #2 can be found on BMG's Russian Piano School set (should be able to buy single CD of it now) and #3 and #4 are on DG. Sound on DG is quite good, BMG less so but listenable.

I again return to Richter for scherzi. Best sound/performance will be found on Olympia label, although performances are better on Doremi label, albeit in poor sound.

Not sure who I can recommend for etudes. My personal reference is Cortot and I simply stopped looking for other sets when I heard these and bought 'em but the sonics are pretty bad (20s/30s recording). I guess Ashkenazy is serviceable in good sound (not sure if he released complete etudes though).