John Field - Piano Concertos (Mícéal O'Rourke)

Information

Composer: John Field

CD1:

• (01-03) Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, H. 27
• (04-06) Piano Concerto No. 2 in A flat major, H. 31

CD2:

• (01-03) Piano Concerto No. 5 in C major "L'incendie par l'orage", H. 39
• (04-06) Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, H. 32

CD3:

• (01-03) Piano Concerto No. 6 in C major, H. 49
• (04-06) Piano Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, H. 28

CD4:

• (01-02) Piano Concerto No. 7 in C minor, H. 58
• (03)      Divertissment No. 1  in E major, H. 13
• (04)      Rondo in A flat major, H. 18
• (05)      Nocturne No.16 in F major, H. 62
• (06)      Quintetto in A flat major, H. 34
• (07-08) Divertissment No. 2 in A major, H. 14

Mícéal O'Rourke, piano
London Mozart Players
Matthias Bamert, conductor

David Juritz, violin (Quintetto H. 34)
Jennifer Godson, violin (Quintetto H. 34)
Sarah-Jane Bradley, viola (Quintetto H. 34)
Julia Desbruslais, cello (Quintetto H. 34)

Date: 1994-1996
Compilation: 2008
Label: Chandos
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2010468

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Review

No need to attempt the marathon; there’s plenty to enjoy on each visit

It has been a delight returning to Field’s seven concertos, best taken one at a time, not as a marathon. The musical value may vary between movements but it is difficult to resist Field’s lyrical grace and melodic charm, the writing veering from “Classical decorum to Romantic ardour” (Maurice Hinson). Here, clearly, is the bridge between the concertos of Mozart (listen to the Adagio of Field’s Fourth Concerto) and Chopin (try the Rondo of No 6). Not one of them is without interest, from the variations on “’Twas within a mile of Edinboro’ Town” which form the slow movement of Concerto No 1, and the finale (Moderato innocente) of No 2 in A flat, the most enduring of the seven and much praised by Schumann, to the ambitious first movement of No 5, L’incendie par l’orage, featuring a tam-tam at the height of the storm (11'30").

O’Rourke and his partners capture Field’s spirit and style to perfection, warmly recorded in a natural acoustic. There is little to choose between the Chandos team and the excellent Benjamin Frith on Naxos, a shade more forwardly and resonantly recorded, generally slightly brisker tempi and at budget price. Both pianists project the music more forcefully than the always-elegant John O’Conor on Onyx. Frith, though, does not include the two-movement Concerto No 7 which comes on Chandos’s fourth disc with a winning selection of short piano-and-orchestra works including Field’s most famous piece, the Divertissement No 1 better known in its solo version as “Midi” or the “Twelve O’Clock Rondo”.

-- Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Mar09/Field_chan10468x.htm
http://www.allmusic.com/album/john-field-the-piano-concertos-mw0001857657
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Field-J-Piano-Concertos-ORourke/dp/B004T8TFEQ
http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Concertos-J-Field/dp/B001ANZQYG

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John Field (26 July 1782 [?], baptised 5 September 1782 – 23 January 1837) was an Irish pianist, composer, and teacher. Born in Dublin, Field studied with Tommaso Giordani there, before studied under Muzio Clementi in London, and quickly became a famous and sought-after concert pianist. Field was very highly regarded by his contemporaries and his playing and compositions influenced many major composers, including Frédéric Chopin, Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Franz Liszt. Field is best known as the instigator of the nocturne, but there is evidence to suggest that this is a posthumous accolade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Field_(composer)

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Míċeál O'Rourke is an Irish pianist who is best known for his recordings of works by John Field. Born and raised in Dublin, O'Rourke moved to Paris shortly after his graduation from University College and lived there ever since. He studied piano under Marcel Ciampi, a pupil of Debussy. O'Rourke has increased the availability of John Field's works considerably through his recordings of all the piano concerti, sonatas, and nocturnes. In 1994, O'Rourke was awarded the Chopin Medal by the Fryderyk Chopin Society of Warsaw in recognition of his "outstanding Chopin playing".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%ADc%C3%A9al_O%27Rourke

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