Search - John [Composer] Field, Matthias Bamert, London Mozart Players :: Field: Piano Concerto No.7/Divertissment Nos. 1 & 2/Rondeau/Nocturne No.16/Quintetto

Relaxing

David Saemann | 03/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"O'Rourke as a pianist is simply not the equal of Benjamin Frith in the latter's Field recordings on Naxos. O'Rourke is a capable pianist with a good sense of style, but Frith is a virtuoso. The 7th Concerto here suffers from a lack of variety of touch, although the performance is certainly sturdy and well played by the orchestra. Where this CD comes into its own is in the shorter works, all but one being recording premieres. The 1st Divertissement may be known to listeners from the opening movement of Sir Hamilton Harty's "A John Field Suite." It is a sprightly, engaging tune. In all of these pieces, O'Rourke is certainly up to their demands, and sure of his interpretations. The quartet from the orchestra that appears in the last two works plays well. The sound engineering in all these works is excellent."