By her own admission, Alice Sara Ott, like many of us, initially attributed the Nocturne genre to Frédéric Chopin. However, the true father of this genre, Irish composer John Field, was already actively composing such works when Chopin was merely a child. Ott stumbled upon Field’s music by chance during the COVID-19 pandemic and was delighted and intrigued by his compositions. Fueled by her curiosity, she continued to explore his music. The result of her efforts is this latest release for Deutsche Grammophon, which includes the complete nocturnes.
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Aside from integrating and reconciling these features so nicely, it is Ott’s sound quality that proves most captivating. Her tone quality is truly pristine, giving each note its due presence. At the same time, this clarity doesn’t translate merely to precision; she’s also able to capture the most intricate changes in mood through gorgeous shifts in color and articulation.
Another thing Ott does very well is to navigate the balance between melodies and their corresponding accompaniments. It’s quite remarkable just how evenly Ott maintains the secondary textures, as we hear in the A-flat H. 26 (track 3). This consistency provides the ideal backdrop for the composer’s inviting vocal lines, and she treats them with charm, elegance, and expressiveness.
Some of the Nocturnes have titles, and Ott makes sincere and convincing efforts in embodying these descriptions through her playing. A stellar example is the F Major “Cradle Song” (track 6): the level of pianissimo she uses is barely above a whisper, evoking a vivid image of a mother singing gently to her baby. This is certainly music meant for a most personal occasion, and the effort the listener will have to put in to grasp her subtle dynamics creates moments of meaningful solitude.
Alice Sara Ott (Image: ©️ Hannes Caspar)
Not all the works in the set, however, are focused on tenderness and reflection. We do get a glimpse into Field’s more virtuosic writing in the “Nocturne Pastorale” (track 10). Here, the flowing runs and embellished melodies speak to a carefree playfulness. With great fingerwork, Ott brings out a breezy nonchalance that sounds almost improvisatory, even if the music itself is much more technically challenging.
Part of me had some misgivings that listening to an entire set of largely peaceful nocturnes would have its intended effect—facilitating a transition to peaceful sleep. However, Ott’s dedication kept me listening attentively to each work. Her foreword and liner notes largely focus on Field’s life. They are very helpful for listeners less familiar with the composer, and they are equally meticulous.
With an excellent Steinway instrument and recording engineering to match, I was left most impressed with both the pianist’s artistry and Field’s compositional talent.
Recommended Comparisons:
Frith | O’Rourke | Orbelian | Elizabeth Joy Roe (digital)
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Album Details |
|
|---|---|
| Album name | John Field – Complete Nocturnes |
| Label | Deutsche Grammophon |
| Catalogue No. | 4866238 |
| Amazon Music link | Stream here |
| Apple Music link | Stream here |
| Artist | Alice Sara Ott |
