On her album released in early 2025, our Artist in Residence, pianist Alice Sara Ott, devoted herself entirely to the little-known Irish composer and pianist John Field (1782–1837) and all of his nocturnes. He is considered the “father” of this popular free form of expressive, romantic piano music, which Frédéric Chopin would later develop further with great success.

“Engaging with Field’s nocturnes was a deeply rewarding experience,” says Ott. “Their beauty and grace affected me profoundly and enriched my life while I was preparing for this recording. By recording this album, I hope to share the story of this historically important composer and to encourage listeners to discover the origins of the Nocturne.”

In her recital, she combines eight of Field's nocturnes with Beethoven's sonatas. The programme concludes with his famous Moonlight Sonata. As is so often the case in music history, the nickname does not come from the composer, but invites listeners to let their imaginations run wild—especially in combination with John Field's “night pieces.”