Stephen Hough: New York Variations - Copland, Corigliano, Tsontakis, Ben Weber

John Corigliano: Etude Fantasy

Aaron Copland : Piano Variations

Ben Weber: Fantasia

George Tsontakis: Ghost Variations

Stephen Hough, piano

Recorded in St. George's, Brandon Hill, Bristol on 26 July 1996 (Corigliano) and 27-29 September 1997 

New York being Stephen Hough’s second home, it’s only natural that he should have gone on the trail of the best of its home-grown piano music. What he has uncovered for us, on this solo disc and in the Lowell Liebermann concertos, is a repertoire that seeks to combine genuineness and depth of expression with immediacy of communication, inclusiveness of stylistic reference and solidity of construction.

Brahms: Sonata In F Minor Op.5, Four Ballades Op.10 - Stephen Hough

Johannes Brahms:

Sonata In F Minor Op.5

Four Ballades Op.10

Stephen Hough, piano

Following his recent dazzling Liszt recital, Stephen Hough turns his attention to the finest works of the young Brahms. Brahms's three piano sonatas are early works, culminating with the epic F-minor Sonata. Spanning five movements, with dramatic and wildly virtuosic outer movements, and a hauntingly beautiful slow movement (described by Claudio Arrau as "the greatest love music after Tristan, and the most erotic"), this is one of the defining piano sonatas of the mid-nineteenth century.

The Ballades Op.10 are essentially miniature tone poems. The first is famously "after the Scottish Ballad Edward", based on a gruesome tale of patricide. Although there are no programmatic hints for the remaining three Ballades, their dramatic contrasts and intense poetry suggest some sort of narrative, even if Brahms did not disclose his inspiration.

As well as being attuned to the autumnal introspection of late Brahms, Stephen Hough also has a special empathy with the passion and athleticism of Brahms's early piano writing. This exciting disc confirms his reputation as one of the most distinguished pianists of his generation.

York Bowen: Piano Music - Stephen Hough

York Bowen (1884-1961)

Piano Music

Stephen Hough, piano

Recorded at St George's, Bristol

PIANOFORTE RECORDING OF THE YEAR

PENGUIN GUIDE ROSETTE

GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE / CRITICS' CHOICE

RECORD OF THE MONTH (HI-FI NEWS & RECORD REVIEW)

DIAPASON D'OR

Stephen Hough's Spanish Album

STEPHEN HOUGH'S SPANISH ALBUM

STEPHEN HOUGH PLAYS :

Longas, Soler, Granados, Albeniz, Mompou, Hough, Scharwenka, et al

J. Brahms : Cello Sonatas, A. Dvorak, J. Suk : Steven Isserlis, Stephen Hough - 2006.

J. Brahms : Cello Sonatas, A. Dvorak, J. Suk : Steven Isserlis, Stephen Hough - 2006
Johannes Brahms : Cello sonata No.1 in E Minor Op.38
Antonin Dvorak : Waldesruhe Op.68 No.5
Rondo in G minor Op.94
Josef Suk : Ballade in D minor Op. 3 No.1
Serenade in A minor Op.3 No 2
Johannes Brahms : Cello Sonata No.2 in F Major Op.99
Steven Isserlis : Cello
Stephen Hough : Piano
Recorded in St. George's, Brandon Hill, Bristol, 2-4 May 2005


TOP TEN RECORDS OF THE YEAR - The Sunday Times
DISC OF THE MONTH - BBC Music Magazine
DISC OF THE WEEK - BBC Radio 3 CD Review
LISTENERS' DISC OF THE YEAR - BBC Radio 3 CD Review
EDITOR'S CHOICE - Gramophone Magazine
Recital Selection of the Month - The Strad
EXCELLENTIA AWARD - Pizzicato Magazine