Following up on his Night Dreamer debut, accomplished pianist Nicolas van Poucke returns with a Direct-to-Disc recording of the works of Chopin. “Direct-to-disc is a unique process for classical recordings, and when given the opportunity by Night Dreamer I knew at once that I wanted to record 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. Live recordings of classical works are rare and studio recordings lean towards the meticulously edited, with the detail afforded by hi-fi digital clarity often preferred to the warmth and feel of an analogue process. “Overall, with this album, I have aimed to showcase the full spectrum of Chopin's genius, from the intense drama of his larger works to the delicacy and poignancy of his miniatures. Recorded direct-to-disc, thus without any editing, the music is presented in its most honest and purest form, highlighting the utterly communicative aspect of Chopin's music. I am honored to have had the opportunity to record this album for and with Night Dreamer, and I hope that it will serve as a fitting tribute to the timeless beauty and profound emotional depth of Chopin's music.”

Direct-to-disc is a unique process for classical recordings, and when given the opportunity by Night Dreamer I knew at once that I wanted to record the works of Chopin. His 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. Some have erroneously described Chopin as a “miniaturist,” a label that unfairly suggests that his talents are limited to smallscale compositions. I, for one, wholeheartedly reject this notion; Chopin's sonatas and concertos are just as extraordinary as his shorter works. Nonetheless, his 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 Csharp minor, and my personal favorite, the Waltz in A-flat major. Alfred Cortot, one of my great heroes, once remarked of this waltz that "in this work, nostalgic fantasy holds sway in marvelously fresh ideas, reflected in the unpredictable wanderings of an endearing melody.”

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. But this idyllic mood is shattered when Chopin violently breaks in, returning us to the dark and tumultuous Polonaise. The piece concludes with a shuddering chord that leaves the listener bewildered, as if waking up from a nightmare.

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. Overall, with this album, I have aimed to showcase the full spectrum of Chopin's genius, from the intense drama of his larger works to the delicacy and poignancy of his miniatures. Recorded direct-to-disc, thus without any editing, the music is presented in its most honest and purest form, highlighting the utterly communicative aspect of Chopin's music. I am honored to have had the opportunity to record this album for and with Night Dreamer, and I hope that it will serve as a fitting tribute to the timeless beauty and profound emotional depth of Chopin's music.