Chopin nocturnes

Ashkanazy and Pollini are both outstanding Chopin performers. Pollini does not have a complete Nocturne, a few are on his "must-have" piano concerto recording with Kletiz conducting. But will recommend his 3 cd Chopin set(Etudes etc),recording sonics are very good,the piano sound is very good as well. Ashkanazy does have 2 releases that contain all the Noctures. London/Decca 452579 all Nocturnes + 4 Ballads. The other is the complete Chopin music, that may be the way to go, Ashkanazy performs ALL!! the music with great technique with a poetic touch! The sonics are not too good(low volume on the amp is best), but will add that the piano does not have a grand sound to it, which seems to sing the music in an "old-style", like its timeless. For that reason you hear the music more and the physical piano itself seems to "disappear". Pollini's piano as well is tonally perfect for Chopin, and recording sonics are outstanding.

I do not recommend Artur Rubinstein's Chopin all the way. But AS far as for Nocturnes concern, Rubinstein on RCA are the two CDs set that i recommend with wholeheart. good play and good tone color sound.

I believe Vladimer Horowitz performs Chopin's Nocturnes as well, though Ashkanazy is something special on Chopin's music- I don't care for him playing Rachmininoff, that's not the question being asked though :)

Ivan Moravec's performances of the Nocturne's are transcendental. If you have any interest in Chopin and you have not heard Moravec's performances, you owe it to yourself to seek them out. The intelligence of his performances are matched only by the depth of feeling with which he informs each note and each musical phrase.

Moravec's performances of the Nocturne's are available on CD on the Nonesuch label as a reissue of the Connoisseur Society recordings originally released on LP. The Connoisseur Society label made some of the most natural and realist recordings of piano that have ever been placed on tape. Their Moravec recordings were some of their best.

Available from Barnes & Noble and other mail order sources:
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=3FKLX4QP23&ean=75597923322

Rushton, you have excellent tastes. Ashkenazy is excellent, but the recordings are a bit dry. Rubinstein's is also excellent, but I'm not too fond of the recorded sound. For me Moravec's performances are excellent as is the sound. For Chopin recitals there is a recent Dorian release by Moravec, lots of etc, and on Telarc there is Parker and Frager (on a Bosendorfer). Both very good performances in excellent sound.