Chopin, Nocturne op. 48 No. 1

During the eighteen years that Chopin lived in Paris, he was treated by twenty-five doctors who, in turn, diagnosed him with pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic laryngitis, tenacious anemia, muscular weakness, scleroderma, intestinal fragility, and psychasthenia. His lover George Sand was right, then, when she described her Chip, her Chop, her Chopinski, as a being "desperate in intimacy". By 1847, when the relationship had died, or was in its death throes, Sand would confess to a friend that "I have been living like a virgin for seven years, with him and with the others. I have grown old before my time...".

The family, in Paris

But in 1840 there were still ardors if ever there were. Returning from a summer spent at Nohant, madame Sand and her two sons settled that autumn at 16 Rue Pigalle, consisting of two pavilions, joined by a small garden.

Chopin, provisionally lodged in Rue Tronchet, soon joined them, and the following month he was installed there, together with his "family", the only one he had in Paris: Chopin and Maurice in one pavilion, Sand and Solange, in the other. Appearances had to be kept up.

George Sand (Aurore Dupin)
(1804 - 1876)

Working at home
George Sand produced day after day –though at odd hours– a river of words that she turned into novels.
Chopin gave piano lessons, 30 francs an hour, values suggested by Sand. In Paris he did not compose, or composed very little – the long-term works were left for the summer, in Nohant.

He would perhaps correct some short, intimate piece on which he was working, and which he would perhaps unveil that very day in the gloom of the aristocratic salon where the couple had been invited and where Chopin, at least, was received like a prince.

Nocturne op. 48 No. 1

The year 1841 marks the beginning of a fruitful period in Chopin's output. That year saw the appearance of several of his notable works, including the two Nocturnes of Opus 48. Published that same year in Paris, they are dedicated to Laure Duperré, one of his outstanding pupils. The first of these, in C minor, is considered one of Chopin's greatest piano accomplishments in achieving an enrapturing emotionality. Three sections are distinguished in it, amalgamating melancholy, majesty and beauty in just over six minutes of music:

00 Largo / 2:45 Poco piú lento / 5:04 Doppio movimento (twice as fast as the preceding).

The piece experiences stormy passages. Nevertheless, it ends in absolute tranquility.

The rendition is by the fine Chinese pianist, Yundi Li.