Alfred Gründfeld plays Chopin's Nocturne op 32/2

Perhaps my favorite example of true, golden school rubato and singing tone.
Like stretching a rubber band; the timing breathes with great expressive elasticity.
Chopin’s delicacy is otherworldly, a kind of fragile yet profound poetry that demands this golden-school approach to truly come alive. The rubato, in the hands of a skilled interpreter, doesn’t disturb the underlying rhythm; instead, it adds layers of subtle color and nuance, like ripples in a still pond. Combined with a singing tone-pure, resonant, and lyrical-the music transforms into an intimate conversation, every note infused with human warmth and vulnerability.
In this way, Chopin’s works become not just performances but living, breathing expressions of the soul. The elasticity of rubato paired with his delicate phrasing elevates the music into a realm where time and emotion merge, creating an experience that feels timeless and deeply personal.