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Amazon.co.uk Review
Born in Dublin in 1782, John Field was a celebrated pianist who spent much of his time on the move around Europe, both playing and playing around. His piano concertos give a hint as to the nature of his keyboard talents--poetic and delicate, with a strong element of fantasy rather than the outright virtuosity expected by audiences of his day. But there's drama too, as in the fifth concerto's depiction of "fire by lightning"--possibly a reference to events surrounding Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. As in his previous Naxos releases of Field concertos, Benjamin Frith shows (on a modern instrument) that he has the measure of Field's improvisatory style. The filigree nature of much of the writing (the last movement of No. 6, for example) finds his touch unfailingly sensitive, the ear for sound unmistakable. The Northern Sinfonia does a sound if unspectacular job, but the slight drawback is the confined acoustic of the celebrated historic Jubilee Theatre at St Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle--a slightly uncomfortable listen at times including, here and there, the piano sound. But this remains a bargain route to discovering some delightful music, fresh and original. --Andrew Green
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's difficult to fault this recording: lyrical, animated and colourful. The "fire from lightning" section in the first movement of the 5th has fantastic energy; the quieter, nocturne-like middle movements from both concertos are played beautifully.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Excellent performances of underperformed music
1 May 2002
Format:Audio CD
Apart from some historians and musical anoraks, John Field isn't a name that many will have heard of. What a pity, as his music is consistently graceful and joyous. The highly decorative, ornamented quality of the music inevitably suggests, not unfairly, Chopin. And anyone interested in the development of the Romantic piano concerto shouldn't fail to investigate his music. Listening to it today, Field's influence on composers such as Hummel, Chopin, Schumann and Liszt are easy to hear in the promotion of the soloist to the position of star performer, the reduction of the orchestral part to a supporting role and the freeing up of the classical sonata form.
So, to the performances. They're thoroughly excellent and enjoyable. Frith skips and dances his way through the intricate passagework, bringing the seemingly never-ending figurations to life. His fleet-fingered playing never fails to make you listen and follow the contours of the musical line. Try the wonderfully nonchalant passage in the 5th concerto (track one, beginning 6.22 through to the end of the exposition.) Mention must also be made of the accompaniment of the Northern Sinfonia under David Halsam. They give subtle support to the pianist, even if at times I felt that they could be slightly more ebullient. The bright recording sometimes produces a hint of fierceness in the treble of the piano, but it is at least up to the standard of the more established (expensive?) companies. Finally, at a superbudget price this CD is a true bargain. It would be desirable even if were at the top end of the price range. There's no real reason not to explore this music by an under-rated and sadly forgotten composer.
(Incidentally, the other issues in this concerto survey are the equal of the present recording. Try the coupling of No.2 & No.4 for another super combination of wonderful music with top-notch performances.)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Delectable
27 Jan 2008
Format:Audio CD
This is an absolutely delightful disc. Frith is a fine pianist. His CD of the Mendelssohn concerti is probably the best version since Rudolf Serkin's. Here he is incredibly attuned to Field's idiom. Field was known as a pianist for his delicacy and subtle nuances. Frith emulates that style admirably. The concertos themselves are crucial works in delineating the changes in the art form between Beethoven and Chopin. Personally, I felt the CD ended too soon, I was enjoying it so much. The orchestra sounds fine, although I played the disc on two different machines and had disappointing results with the sound on one of them. In sum, this is a real find.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Excellent playing of fine music
26 Jan 2010
Format:Audio CD
John Field's fifth piano concerto, subtitled `L'incendie par l'Orage' (`Fire by Lightning') is a bravura piece par excellence, and Benjamin Frith raises to the challenge with some scintillating virtuouso pianism; glittering and ferocious and powerful, but also almost effortless-sounding and with marvelous phrasing. Yes, the work has a tendency to lapse into empty bombast, but there are some very fine things here as well (some genuinely inspired, almost sultry quieter passages and a spirited, bouncing last movement, for instance).
The sixth concerto is lighter and brighter and requires less technical wizardry, but even more poetry and lightness of touch, and Frith is no less compelling here. He is also very well accompanied by the Northern Sinfonia under David Haslam in both works. On the negative side? Well, the sound quality isn't quite the best Naxos has managed to produce, being very close and cavernous, leading almost to distortion of the orchestra at times. Still, this is a very appealing release and one that deserves a hearty welcome.
The sixth concerto is lighter and brighter and requires less technical wizardry, but even more poetry and lightness of touch, and Frith is no less compelling here. He is also very well accompanied by the Northern Sinfonia under David Haslam in both works. On the negative side? Well, the sound quality isn't quite the best Naxos has managed to produce, being very close and cavernous, leading almost to distortion of the orchestra at times. Still, this is a very appealing release and one that deserves a hearty welcome.
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