Field: Piano Concerto No. 2 n A-flat major / Piano Concerto No. 3 in E-flat major

"These Telarc versions are beautifully recorded and the warm, naturally balanced sound gives the music the elegance it needs. John O'Conor plays throughout with great distinction and always displays the lightest touch, and Mackerras accompanies with warmth and character."
*** Three Stars Penguin Stereo Guide

Acclaimed for his eloquent style, dynamic technique and command of keyboard color, particularly in the Classic and Roman-tic repertoires, Irish pianist John O'Conor first gained wide-spread attention in the United States in 1986, with the first installment of the complete cycles of Beethoven sonatas on the Telarc label. Additional recorded cycles in progress include the concertos of Mozart with Sir Charles Mackerras and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the complete works of Irish composer, John Field.

Mr. O'Conor, an exclusive Telarc artist, performs extensively in Europe, having appeared with leading orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, the Vienna Symphony, the Czech Philharmonic, l'Orchestre National de France, and the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. In addition, he has made several tours of North America including appearances with The Cleveland Orchestra, the National Symphony and the orchestras of Montreal, Detroit and Dallas. In Japan, Mr. O'Conor has performed both in recital and in concert with the NHK Symphony, and has toured the Soviet Union twice. In recent seasons, he performed three complete chronological Beethoven sonata cycles at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Boston's Gardner Museum, and London's Wigmore Hall.

Mr. O'Conor's early studies began with J.J. O'Reilly at the College of Music in Dublin. He was subsequently awarded an Austrian government scholarship enabling him to study in Vienna with the respected pianist and instructor, Dieter Weber, and with noted Beethoven interpreter Wilhelm Kempff. In 1973, Mr. O'Conor was unanimously awarded First Prize in the International Beetho-ven Competition in Vienna, an achievement followed by another prestigious award that year-First Prize at the Bosendorfer Piano Competition.

A familiar figure on television and radio in Ireland, Mr. O'Conor is actively involved in improving educational and per-forming opportunities for young musicians there. He has been instrumental in the establishment of the GPA Dublin International Piano Competition. John O'Conor lives in Dublin with his wife and two sons.