I performed this piece as a final encore on my last faculty recital after a 37-year college teaching career. My inspiration was this recording of Stephen Hough. It's such a poignant and tender piece, and his interpretation is exquisite.
I heard this performance on CD years ago and as soon as I heard this piece I knew I had to learn it. It is absolutely gorgeous. The fact that it is also so rarely played makes it a great piece to have in your repertoire. Steven Hough has done a great job of championing some of the works of lesser-known composers. Check out his CD "The Piano Album" for some jewels.
I came across this piece 25 years ago in a compilation of piano music published by Schirmer, probably in the 1920s. Paderewsky was a contemporary composer then! It's a real jewel.
I was so shocked to see this is 22 years old, I saw him last weekend in Vancouver playing Liszt's first piano concerto, and he hasn't age a bit! Great playing as always.
As I was posting... Saw this performance on TV around 1988 when this was done and fell in love with this piece. Had to have it ... It took me 2 years to find it (this was back before they started putting sheet music on the internet, can you believe that) Finally found the piece and learned it. Not a difficult piece to play, really, but you do need to get that singing tone down to do a proper job in performing this. Thank you so much for posting!!
Actually, I didn't find it on the Web. When I was looking for this piece in the late 1980s, there was something called a music store where you actually held sheet music in your hand before buying it. Sheet music was definitely not on the internet at that time, nor could you order it online. I think I got the music at a music store in NYC (Carl Fischer music comes to mind). Sorry if this all came out sounding snarky, but it amazes me that people think that the internet was always there.
@maternalheart66 Yes, this is Stephen at about 27. He still looks just as lovely! Did you manage to get his autograph? I saw him in England this year! Fantastic man in all ways!
Unfortunately I couldn't get an autograph, I think he had to leave right after the concert to catch a plane to New York. Hopefully he'll come back some time though, I'd love a chance to meet him!
I also miss Horowitz, but this is a very good performance in its own right. It is not easy to play at Carnegie at such a young age, yet his ease at the instrument lends itself to a deceptively simple interpretation. We called him Steve at Juilliard and he was particularly gifted at sight reading. I did not know he was performing at Carnegie at the time. I remember performing the Liszt sonata and being surprised in the piano lit class when he was asked to perform it also right afterwords. The competition at Juilliard was not healthy in that regard. Yet, we always admired each other's talent.
Who is the idiot coughing non-stop in the audience? Why don't people excuse themselves so others can enjoy the performance. So completely inconsiderate to everyone. Each cough says, "Hey everyone, look at me! I'm too ignorant to know I should excuse myself, so I'll sit here and ruin the entire performance. Don't mind do you?"
Sorry it was me who was coughing. I would have left but I had to wait for my socks to finish drying in the tumble dryer I brought with me... Which you can also hear in the background. I didn't think anyone would mind
Happily, these days it can indeed be found on the web without having to struggle down the music store in the wind and rain (and then be expected to actually pay for it!) It's on imslp.org as part of Paderewski's Miscellanea op. 16.
Yes marvellous i just downloaded it in seconds. Musicians and composers would've been delighted beyond recognition to be able to do that One day they'll invent a chip you can transplant to the brain and be able to play it note perfect without practice Im now waiting for that invention
Two things about Hough: I love the emo fringe haha...its soo...funny lol. He has beautiful control over the instrument; drawing from it the most beautiful tones and nuances. Sonorous. The piece: Never heard it in my life before, however, im sure that compared to the few others that have played it, Hough has played it to the standard of what Paderewski would have wanted it to be played.
I agree that the upper register is flat. It's actually tinny. Unfortunately the piano is not up to the standard of this fantastic pianist. Everything that Stephen Hough plays, he plays well.
The performance is fine but the recording is AWFUL ! So much background noise.... very painful to the ears ! And this man keeping on coughing... Really, how dare you post such a poor recording, it is an insult to the composer and to the pianist as well.
I performed this piece as a final encore on my last faculty recital after a 37-year college teaching career. My inspiration was this recording of Stephen Hough. It's such a poignant and tender piece, and his interpretation is exquisite.
How very wonderful, thank you !🌷🌷🌷(Netherlands)
I heard this performance on CD years ago and as soon as I heard this piece I knew I had to learn it. It is absolutely gorgeous. The fact that it is also so rarely played makes it a great piece to have in your repertoire. Steven Hough has done a great job of championing some of the works of lesser-known composers. Check out his CD "The Piano Album" for some jewels.
For me this is the noblest and most elegant performance of this piece I can find so far. Very well played.
Poland has given us so much.
Very beautiful and very beautifully played. Now, I feel that I MUST to play this... I never played Paderewski...
So much to love in his sensitive performance of this beautiful nocturne, particularly the exquisite phrasing...
Bravo, Stephen! I love this piece--my son played it for his high school 'Cabaret' evening--we're probably the only three people to play it~
absolutely moving, thank you mr. hough, martina and mr. paderewski in heaven
I came across this piece 25 years ago in a compilation of piano music published by Schirmer, probably in the 1920s. Paderewsky was a contemporary composer then! It's a real jewel.
outstanding performance of a lovely piece. I just now decided to learn it because of his great interpretation.
I hope he still has my lighter. Steve used to smoke a pipe when he was relaxing at his luxurious apartment as a student. Glad he has done so well.
He is so gifted
Absolutely sends chills throughout my torso!
You'd think Steinway or Carnegie Hall would have provided an adjustable bench!
Captivatingly beautiful! Warm thanks to Messrs Paderewski and Hough.
Stephen Hough is a wonderful, sensitive pianist and his is the best performance of this lovely nocturne.
Michael Sulman a
Beautiful ♡ Sir Stephen Hough ♡
I was so shocked to see this is 22 years old, I saw him last weekend in Vancouver playing Liszt's first piano concerto, and he hasn't age a bit! Great playing as always.
Lovely, and also well done. The modulations are breath taking. Thank you.
Sublime!
SH , high level Artistry, offers variety of music for listeners to enjoy and perhaps, learn from….very good for us
Lovely! Bravo! TY.
As I was posting... Saw this performance on TV around 1988 when this was done and fell in love with this piece. Had to have it ... It took me 2 years to find it (this was back before they started putting sheet music on the internet, can you believe that) Finally found the piece and learned it. Not a difficult piece to play, really, but you do need to get that singing tone down to do a proper job in performing this. Thank you so much for posting!!
Hough. Ecco un Paderewski al tempo giusto...
stephen is awesome....
Actually, I didn't find it on the Web. When I was looking for this piece in the late 1980s, there was something called a music store where you actually held sheet music in your hand before buying it. Sheet music was definitely not on the internet at that time, nor could you order it online. I think I got the music at a music store in NYC (Carl Fischer music comes to mind).
Sorry if this all came out sounding snarky, but it amazes me that people think that the internet was always there.
Linda música !
Saw this performance on TV probably around 1988 onP
At 10 secs he sits down and appears to grope for the stool height adjustment knobs - but can't find any so he gives up!
감명깊게 감상하였읍니다``
Lovely performance from Hough. Let em cough NO distraction for Stephen.
@maternalheart66
Yes, this is Stephen at about 27. He still looks just as lovely! Did you manage to get his autograph? I saw him in England this year! Fantastic man in all ways!
Nagrał Lista. Dwie płyty, świetne nagrania. Polecam.
Unfortunately I couldn't get an autograph, I think he had to leave right after the concert to catch a plane to New York. Hopefully he'll come back some time though, I'd love a chance to meet him!
needs to dream more...i miss horowitz...
I also miss Horowitz, but this is a very good performance in its own right. It is not easy to play at Carnegie at such a young age, yet his ease at the instrument lends itself to a deceptively simple interpretation. We called him Steve at Juilliard and he was particularly gifted at sight reading. I did not know he was performing at Carnegie at the time. I remember performing the Liszt sonata and being surprised in the piano lit class when he was asked to perform it also right afterwords. The competition at Juilliard was not healthy in that regard. Yet, we always admired each other's talent.
Who is the idiot coughing non-stop in the audience? Why don't people excuse themselves so others can enjoy the performance. So completely inconsiderate to everyone. Each cough says, "Hey everyone, look at me! I'm too ignorant to know I should excuse myself, so I'll sit here and ruin the entire performance. Don't mind do you?"
Sorry it was me who was coughing. I would have left but I had to wait for my socks to finish drying in the tumble dryer I brought with me... Which you can also hear in the background. I didn't think anyone would mind
@@DEEDEEFARRELL 😂
@snafu313
Where did you find the sheet music for this lovely piece on the Web, pray tell?
IMSLP - probably has all the sheet music you need, especially for classical music :)
Was this recorded with a transformer? Oh my gosh, that hum!
Happily, these days it can indeed be found on the web without having to struggle down the music store in the wind and rain (and then be expected to actually pay for it!)
It's on imslp.org as part of Paderewski's Miscellanea op. 16.
Yes marvellous i just downloaded it in seconds.
Musicians and composers would've been delighted beyond recognition to be able to do that
One day they'll invent a chip you can transplant to the brain and be able to play it note perfect without practice
Im now waiting for that invention
@lsbrother
Aww! You're right! You would imagine that that issue would have been sorted out in a dress rehearsal!
Over looked ,underplayed Gem..
!!!1
Two things about Hough: I love the emo fringe haha...its soo...funny lol.
He has beautiful control over the instrument; drawing from it the most beautiful tones and nuances. Sonorous.
The piece: Never heard it in my life before, however, im sure that compared to the few others that have played it, Hough has played it to the standard of what Paderewski would have wanted it to be played.
whoa, the audio is so bad ...
I agree that the upper register is flat. It's actually tinny. Unfortunately the piano is not up to the standard of this fantastic pianist. Everything that Stephen Hough plays, he plays well.
Spellbinding...
The sound recording is not all that great either, which could contribute to the tinniness
Lol the comments here are so old
Far too much unnecessary coughing from the audience, I think. I hope that Stephen wasn't too distracted.
Its too bad there was constant coughing from the audience. Hope that didnt take away from the enjoyment of anyone there. Yeesh.
The performance is fine but the recording is AWFUL ! So much background noise.... very painful to the ears ! And this man keeping on coughing... Really, how dare you post such a poor recording, it is an insult to the composer and to the pianist as well.
I only heard the music.
May as well toss any 78’s by legendary and historical performers.