How do you like your Chopin Nocturnes? 1) Aloof, remote, almost austere, and yet highly melodic, lyrical and technically precise.? 2) Intimate, morose, saturnine, autumnal, almost gloomy, and yet profoundly emotive.? If you answered yes to number 1 you will find much to admire in this new recording by British pianist Stephen Hough, in which melodic clarity and flowing momentum are top priority. Like I had previously pointed out in this review of his recording of the music of Alexander Scriabin, "whenever I listen to recordings, of any composer, by pianist Stephen Hough, I always hear clarity, effervescent speed, delicacy and a bright and sunny perspective." Not quite the perspective on the music of Chopin one would expect, but somehow it works. You see, in the booklet notes Hough himself explains that the Nocturnes are almost operatic in character, with plenty of bel canto melodies with virtuoso decoration reminiscent of a coloratura diva. And like I had mentioned in another review of a very recent recording of the Chopin Nocturnes by pianist Jan Lisiecki, the emphasis here is on the melodic rather than the melodramatic.

I myself have always believed that what Chopin put down in the left hand to be just as important as the notes in the right hand. The harmonic relationship between the two is crucial, and actually makes or breaks the beauty of the melodic line. This effect is a bit lacking here as the left hand is played and treated as if an afterthought. A little less clarity, and more harmonic ambiguity and smouldering passion, are integral components to the charm of Chopin's music. As is customary with Hyperion, the recorded sound is exemplary although I find the piano itself to sound a bit distant and attenuated, but this may have to do with the fact that the instrument used for this recording is a Yamaha CFX as opposed to the usual Steinway D. As well, it would have been nice to see some mention in the booklet notes as to which edition of the score Stephen Hough used for this performance, since here and there I noticed minor differences to what I've always seen on the printed page.

But these are minor quibbles on my part -- which is what happens when over the years, you've listened to too many recordings of the same piece -- and you've become note-for-note intimate with the music and have lost some objectivity. All in all this is a very refined interpretation, focused on Chopin's art rather than his heart.