Search - John Field, Matthias Bamert, London Mozart Players :: John Field: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Oh my Goodness!

marcel195 | Victoria Australia | 01/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Oh my Goodness" is what you'll say when you hear Field's Concerto Number 2 in Abmajor. Then you'll say: "this is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard in my life." And, for the next 3 months or so, you'll need to listen to it at least once a day; putting aside (and perhaps trashing) your albums containing the works of the 12-tone masters, you will wonder why they ever headed in such directions. Through his concertos, John Field displays his gifts in creating beautiful and expressive music which is always natural, never forced or manipulative, but is certainly very emotional. However, the emotion in his work is very subtle, without rage or anger. In fact, there are several instances in the 2nd concerto where other composers might have burst out with a tutti from the orchestra or crashing 8-voice chords from the piano; Field finds other directions which are gentle and poetic, but, at the same time, never leave you feeling empty. The first concerto is great too (just, not as great as the second).Miceal O'Rourke and the London Players understand Field's language very well. O'Rourke has a nice touch and never just "presses the right buttons" - there is great depth and sensitivity in his playing (and apparently his Chopin playing is fantastic...according to the inside sleeve of the C.D. anyway). It sounds like he plays on quite an expensive piano too and the quality of the recording is excellent. I haven't heard these pieces played by anyone else, but I'm extremely happy with this recording (in fact, I also bought the other 5 concertos as recorded by the same artists)."

A Musical Treasure from an Under-appreciated Master

Steven Muni | Sutter Creek, CA USA | 01/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For many years, John Field, the Irish composer of wonderful piano music, was unjustifiably neglected by musicians and critics alike. If considered at all, Field, who came between Beethoven and Chopin, was considered at best a transition figure, or at worst a musical curiosity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Field's music is nothing short of a revelation. It is lyrical yet complex, the work of a master musician who could stand with the best of the writers for the piano. Fortunately Field's music is now beginning to be heard more often on classical radio and is more available on recordings. And this one, especially of his Second Piano Concerto, is excellent. Micael O'Rourke and the London Mozart Players, led by Matthias Bamert, do it, and Field, full justice. The music simply sings. For fans of classical piano, if you haven't yet discovered the piano music of John Field, you are in for a treat. This CD should be in anyone's classical collection."

Love This Recording!

Jen from California | CA | 12/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard this recording on our classical radio station. Had to listen to it on Amazon.com. For all of you Mozart fans, for all of you romantic music classical fans, this is it. I love all of John Field's piano concertos. This recording is superb! The pianist is wonderful and the orchestra is great. Buy it for all your clasical music-loving friends. They will thank you for it."