Search - John [Composer] Field, John O'Conner, John O'Conor :: John Field: Sonatas and Nocturnes

Another excellent Field performance by O'Conor

07/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John O'Conor is a gifted Irish pianist. This disc is a beautifully recorded performance of Field's piano sonatas on a Hamburg Steinway Piano. O'Conor's recording of Field's Nocturnes (also on Telarc) have been highly praised. This disc makes and excellent companion to that recording and includes the three Nocturnes which they were unable to fit on the other disc. Highly recommended."

Better and better

Alexander T. Gafford | Midland, Ga United States | 12/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am listening to this recording as I write this review. The longer I listen to the work of John Field, the less I see it as something to be slotted in between the works of the better known composers and described as like this one or like that one. Why wouldn't we start to talk of Chopin as being like John Field? This music has so much originality and spark as well as polish and sophistocation that comparisons start to be beside the point. It is true that these pieces are written to showcase Field's talents as a performer and in this recording John O'Conner is not found wanting in skill. But there is much sheer beauty in the writing, though perhaps not the struggle with structure that seemed to preoccupy or obsess some other composers like Beethoven.



The Sonatas have interesting forms as well as tunes and the Nocturnes prefigure those of Chopin and Faure in both structure and content. This is a committed, thoughtful and strong performance of music that deserves more appreciation in the future.

"

O'Conor is the original piano poet

T. Boylan | 07/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John O'Conor cannot be faulted in this recording of John Field. He manages to give it that Chopin-nocturne-feel but show the originality and musicality required when approaching John Field's music. An excellent recording with technical brilliance and poetic musicality."