Chopin Nocturne Op 48 No.1 C minor

One of Chopin’s most priceless performance remarks is at the beginning of this Nocturne -- “sotto voce“. Just like that : not a girlish “piano“ , not an ambivalent “mezzo forte“ , not even meaty forte ( the last thing you want here is an “opera“ voice for this melody ).It effectively bars all over-the-top cheap and showy “expressive emotions“ -- no eye rolling allowed , no hair flailing, no hands flying , no sobs , no visible tears.... A musical equivalent of the famed British “ keeping a stiff uppe