I love his Chopin Nocturnes as well. All miniature Tone Poems.
I have to admit that I don’t know his contemporary recordings well. Perhaps @simonmoon can recommend a few
Maurizio Pollini R.I.P.
The great Pianist died over the weekend, age 82. One of my biggest regrets during the Pandemic was a cancellation of a concert where he was scheduled to play the last 3 Beethoven Sonatas.
He had a wide repertoire, and championed a lot of modern music, but for me it will always be his Chopin. His recording of the Etudes on DG was electrifying, a mixture of beautiful poetry and overwhelming power. Op. 25/12 in particular with the almost buzz saw intensity of the left hand harmony always gets me out of my seat even after half a century of familiarity