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2LP
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ND 010LP
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Following up on his Night Dreamer debut, accomplished pianist Nicolas van Poucke returns with a recording of the works of Chopin. Originally entering the studio with the intention of recording the Chopin pieces, van Poucke's technical skill and emotional depth resulted in producing two direct-to-disc recordings, the other being a Beethoven record released in 2022 on Night Dreamer. Although an unusual method of recording for this style of music, the one-take process was met by van Poucke head-on, balancing the fine lines of emotion and detail, and following in the footsteps of the greats who once recorded in this way. Van Poucke says: "[Chopin]'s music has long held a special place in my heart and remains central to my repertoire. A towering figure in the history of piano music, Chopin's genius has left an indelible mark on the world of pianism. His Etudes Opus 10 were a seminal moment in the development of the art of the piano and are studied by every serious pianist at some point in their development. This new album features a selection of Chopin's works that showcase his mastery in various forms... [H]is skills as a master of the small form are evident in such pieces as the haunting Nocturne Opus 32 No. 1, four Mazurkas Opus 33, the mysterious and harmonically daring Prelude Opus 45, and three Waltzes Opus 64, including the celebrated 'Minute' Waltz, the equally renowned 'Waltz' in C-sharp minor, and my personal favorite, the 'Waltz' in A-flat major." The album also features two of Chopin's larger works, the Polonaise in Fsharp minor Opus 44, a dark and volatile composition that stands as one of his most energetic pieces. Its bold and defiant main theme, as Franz Liszt once noted, is like 'the repeated roar of artillery, as if we caught the sounds from some dread battle waging in the distance'... A charming and innocent idyllic Mazurka is inserted in the middle of the piece, infused with the sweet perfume of lavender and marjoram... The other larger work on the album is the Ballade in G minor Opus 23, a composition that I deeply adore for its narrative power and dramatic sweep. As the final piece on the album, it is a fitting and dramatic conclusion to this collection of Chopin's works."
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LP
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ND 011LP
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"The stakes are high; if I mess up the last bar, the whole recording is ruined." As Dutch pianist Nicolas van Poucke acknowledges, there is an electricity in the room whenever the lathe is on. Direct-to-disc recording generates tension and release unlike other methods, not least in the final moments of a 20-minute solo piano recital. Described as "the young freethinker" of his generation, van Poucke relished the challenge. Having spent day one setting up to record works by Frédéric Chopin, van Poucke changed tack on day two to perform two Beethoven piano sonatas -- "Sonata No. 12 Opus 26 in A flat major", and "Sonata No. 23 Opus 57 in F minor", also known as the "Appassionata". For many the latter is one of Beethoven's most important and challenging works. Recorded in a single continuous take, van Poucke's recital bristles with energy, control and improvisatory flair. The nature of the recording also sets it apart. Classical pianists have long negotiated the line between technical precision and emotional intent. Outside the rigors of the concert hall, live recordings of classical works are a rarity, and contemporary studio recordings tend towards the meticulously edited. The detail afforded by hi-fi digital clarity is often preferred to the warmth and feel of an analog process. This was not always the case. Drawing on his love for the playing of Cortot, Horowitz, and Fischer during the so-called "golden age" of pianists in the early-mid 20th century who would have likely recorded direct-to-disc before the advent of tape, van Poucke was inspired to follow in their footsteps. "When playing music, one goes from one place to another," he describes. "In a performance, everything that happens in the moment affects what will happen in the next bar or chord. A different nuance, shading, sound quality, inflection might put something that happened in a different light." The immediacy of the recording is striking, the resonant quality of the open Steinway grand delivering a sound as close to live as possible. Nicolas agrees: "In the end, it was a super intense, risky, highly-strung, but a beautiful and joyful experience." For fans of great jazz soloists like Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans as much as for classical aficionados, van Poucke's recordings make the best of the process in capturing a sense of timelessness in the music. Tip-on sleeve; 180 gram vinyl.
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