OUT TODAY: ALICE SARA OTT RELEASES JOHN FIELD’S
COMPLETE, RARELY PERFORMED NOCTURNES
“Field’s more whimsical offerings have a playful spirit all their own”
The Times ★★★★
Friday 7 February – Today, Alice Sara Ott releases John Field · Complete Nocturnes on Deutsche Grammophon. With this new album, Alice goes back to the origins of the nocturne. While this genre is often associated with Chopin, it was pioneered, if not invented, by the lesser-known John Field. Ott’s recording of his 18 Nocturnes celebrates the music of the man known as the “father of the nocturne”. It is the first full cycle to be issued on DG.
Ott’s relatively recent discovery of Field’s music speaks of the neglect into which it has fallen. The diverse characters of the nocturnes had an instant attraction for her. “I can still remember how the melody in the right hand [of No. 1] had something nostalgic and familiar about it,” – she recalls. “It was as if I had known it since my childhood…”
“Engaging with Field’s nocturnes was a deeply rewarding experience,” concludes Ott. “Their beauty and grace affected me profoundly and enriched my life while I was preparing for this recording. I hope that this album may perhaps inspire the occasional listener to discover Field’s music for themselves. Here, after all, is the man who bequeathed the nocturne to posterity.”
In addition to the album, Ott has collaborated with director (and world-renowned tenor) Andrew Staples to create a 45-minute film shot at the German virtual production house Hyperbowl in Munich. The film will immerse viewers in Alice’s imagination and her connection to Field’s music, offering a rare glimpse into the artist’s mind during the creative process. It will be available to stream on STAGE+ on 15 February 2025.
Beginning on 7 February at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Alice Sara Ott undertakes a 17-city European tour of a recital programme combining a selection of Field’s nocturnes with sonatas by Beethoven. Full touring details can be found here.