Share this Post

Field: Complete Nocturnes

2025DG 4866238Piano, Solo Piano

The name of John Field is not as familiar as pianists who followed him, such as Liszt and Chopin, but it should be. With elegant performances that bring out all the subtle colors of the music, Alice Sara Ott shows how this pioneer of the piano nocturne influenced generations of composers with his evocative and lyrical works.

Lisa FlynnHost

While the nocturne — a short, dreamy, and melodically expressive work that evokes the night — is often associated with Chopin, it was pioneered by the lesser-known Irish composer John Field. Alice Sara Ott’s recording of his 18 Nocturnes celebrates the music of the man credited as the inventor of form. “Engaging with Field’s nocturnes was a deeply rewarding experience,” says Ott. “Their beauty and grace affected me profoundly, and I hope that this album may perhaps inspire the occasional listener to discover Field’s music for themselves.”

A visionary musician, Alice Sara Ott continually reimagines the repertoire, creating immersive multimedia experiences through cross-disciplinary collaborations. In addition to making the album, Ott stars in a 50-minute documentary called NOCTURNE available on DG’s streaming platform STAGE+.

Similar Releases

  • Khachaturian: Piano Concerto
    Gustavo Dudamel, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Los Angeles Philharmonic
  • Portrait of Michael Spyres in a tuxedo, smiling so widely his eyes are shut, teal background.
    Donizetti Songs, Vol. 3
    Michael Spyres, Carlo Rizzi
  • Headshot of composer Shawn E. Okpebholo, smiling with arms crossed in front of a grey background
    Songs in Flight
    Karen Slack, Rhiannon Giddens, Reginald Mobley, Paul Sánchez, Julian Velasco, Will Liverman
  • Schumann Violin Sonatas
    Alina Ibragimova, Cédric Tiberghien
  • Stephen Hough
    Hough: Piano Concerto, Sonatina & Partita
    Stephen Hough, Mark Elder, The Hallé
  • The Summer Portraits
    Ludovico Einaudi, Théotime Langlois de Swarte, The Royal Philharmonic Strings