Two Nocturnes, Opus 27, is a set of piano pieces from 1835 written by Polish composer Frédéric Chopin (1810 - 1849). This set marks the transition from triplets of nocturnes to contrasting pairs that Chopin would use from now on. The first one is amongst the most dramatic and highly regarded of the lot, with a haunting feeling of suspense, thrilling arpeggios, and fascinating mood swings. We are by now far away from the original examples of the genre - an absolute masterpiece. Its companion is based on variations on a single dreamy mood, deceptively simple, and a perfect contrast to the first nocturne in this set. The average playing time is 11 minutes. My version is by Vladimir Ashkenazy on a Decca/London double CD.
