Search - Field, Restani, Orchestre Philharmonique De Nice :: Field: Complete Piano Concertos

John Field was inventor of the Nocturne. That is all most people know about this remarkable and influential Irish composer. Admired by his contemporaries Hummel, Moscheles and Kalkbrenner, he also drew praise from Chopin and Schumann. 'Discovered' by Clementi in London in 1794, he was given a thorough musical education by the great Italian master, who quickly recognized the 11-year-old's talent. In 1799 he premiered his Piano Concerto No.1 in E flat to huge acclaim, and followed it quickly with the three piano sonatas Op.1. Clementi and Field left London in 1802 for an extended European tour, to include Vienna and St Petersburg. In 1803, in St Petersburg Field became the darling of the Russian aristocracy. 'Not to have heard Field was regarded as a sin against art and good taste' said one commentator about the 'Field fever' that was sweeping the salons. His seven concertos contain some of his most strikingly original and beautiful ideas. Notable is the central slow nocturne section in the first movement of No.7 (praised by Schumann), and the storm sequence in No.5, complete with gong, bell, tam tam, trombone and a second piano. The Second Concerto remained in the repertoire of the great virtuosi Pachmann, Mark Hambourg, Nikolai Rubinstein and von Bulow. Chopin and Clara Schumann taught it. It remains one of the most influential and effective early-Romantic piano concertos, and the blueprint for Chopin's two concertos. New recordings made in 2007/8. Each concerto is discussed in detail with references to leading Field scholarship. An important release for all enthusiasts of early-Romantic piano concertos, and students of the music of Chopin, Liszt and Schumann.