Singing The Nocturnes is the new 21-song collection from classical pianist Elizabeth Sombart. I can’t claim to be an expert in classical music, nor do I have the trained ear to discern the difference between Sombart’s rendition of Frederick Chopin’s compositions such as “Nocturnes, Op. 48 No. 1_No. 13 in C Minor” versus say, David Fray (who also happens to be French like Sombart). What I can declare and vehemently defend is that Sombart gives a convincing performance in each selection. This exceptional pianist helps usher in an exciting 2022 year-in-music. Too soon for best of lists, but my crystal ball thinks that she’s definitely a contender. Unexpected, but not underappreciated, Sombart is tops.
WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Sombart
URL: https://www.elizabethsombart.com/en/home-english/
Sombart’s impressive resume includes studying at France’s Strasbourg Conservatory. The Conservatory dates back to 1855. After winning first prize at the National Piano and Chamber Music Awards, Sombart traveled to Buenos Aires to study with Bruno Leonardo Gelber (a 1999 recipient of Monaco’s Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit), followed by tutelage in London under the late Peter Feuchtwanger (a former Vice President of the European Piano Teachers Association and early subscriber to teaching healthy, relaxed movements while playing).
Sombart was also a student of Hilde Langer-Rühl in Vienna. According to Wikipedia, Langer-Rühl hypothesized that “only when the musician is in harmony with his physical skills and at the same time in harmony with the natural breathing movement can he execute the spiritual and emotional content of the music and make it audible.” Knowing that in addition to the hours of training to perform Chopin’s compositions Sombart has devoted her entire career to feeling ‘Zen-like’ while playing, listening to Singing The Nocturnes feels like spending a perfect day at the park.
While the songs are inspired by night time, these pieces drew me closer to the sunlight and brightness. I felt at times shuffled, like the tempo was dropping off or trickling down a wall, but never darkness. I can definitely appreciate, though, most listeners feeling the nighttime vibe in all of these pieces. The transition from “Nocturnes, Op. 15 No. 3_No. 6 in G Minor” to “Nocturnes, Op. 27 No. 1_No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor” is seamless. Chopin is known for his almost improvisational composing style – and you can almost reach out and touch that same feeling from Sombart. Even when the arrangement might call for a choppy or hurried portion, she gracefully presents the piece.
Perfect for your yoga routine, a casual day at home or candlelight dinner with your spouse, the selections in Singing The Nocturnes come alive. Sombart’s translation of Chopin unveils that special magic, that invisible fairy dust that lights the night’s sky. Or in my case, that breezy and not-a-cloud-in-the-sky perfect day. Looking for that same escape? Look no further than the fantastic Singing The Nocturnes from pianist Elizabeth Sombart via Classica Musica Records. The 21-song collection is out now. You don’t have to have discerning tastes, you just have to open your heart and mind to all the beauty music unleashes.
Chadwick Easton