Chopin: Journal Intime/Alexandre Tharaud (piano)

The Chopin anniversary is predictably producing recordings of his complete waltzes, mazurkas, nocturnes and so on, but this sequence of carefully chosen pieces makes for a more satisfying listen. Framed by an exquisite C sharp minor mazurka and poetic E flat nocturne, Alexandre Tharaud explores a huge emotional range in his Journal Intime , including the most thrilling and propulsive first ballade since Michelangeli's version, with a deeply intense C sharp minor nocturne at the heart. Tharaud lifts the music across the bar-lines with deft rubato, his sound clear, shining and sensuous; altogether breathtakingly beautiful.