Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908), is one of the most important and most successful violin virtuosos of the second half of the 19th century. Apart from works of his own, Sarasate also arranged other works for his own use, such as these two 'Nocturnes' by Frédéric Chopin. To pianists, it may seem like sacrilege to arrange such masterpieces but Sarasate wanted to transfer some of the most beautiful and most tender melodies to the violin which he saw primarily as a vocal instrument.