Stephen Hough (pronounced huff)

I don't think we've talked about this guy. Anyone else blown away by his recordings coming out this year?? I'm sitting here listening to yesterday's Performance Today (you can get there from the main page http://www.performancetoday.com ) and he's got an amazing variations seriuses by Mendelsohn ... really really good.

And be sure to check out his complete Rach concertos with the Dallas Symphony ... The last mvt of the 2nd is stunning. And his 3rd concerto 1st mvt cadenza has to be heard to be believed.

Really, guys, check this one out if you haven't. He's Britain-born but don't hold that against him! :lol:

 

Nathan, I visited the http://performancetoday.publicradio.org/ but can't find how to listen to the music.
Does this site only the titles which are broadcasted, but not the music itself?? :?:

BTW I saw him on TV with Simon Rattle and Berliner Philharmoniker. He played there Rach's Paganini Rhapsody, but to be honest I thought he is not really good..

 

You have to have realaudio to listen to the clips, hye.

 

To be honest your conclusion should be that you probably just like your Rach differently. I understand he has a lighter touch with Rach than usual which may not be to everyone's taste. I suspect this might not be my teste either, though I haven't heard these only read about them.
But believe me, Hough is really, REALLY good, he turns all he plays into gold.

 

Thank you Nathan, I'm listening now a English Suite played by Anderszewsky from the Performance Today!!! It's a good new that there is a so nice broadcasting on the web But I can't find the menu "Listen" on the page for the 24th May, where the performance of Hough is listed. Maybe the "Listen" exists only on the actual date.

And thank you, too Chris. I'll pay more attention to Hough whom you praise so much. :wink:

 

Hye, the listen feature is only for performances within a 7-day period ... you have seven days to listen and then it disappears forever! :x

 

Hi I too am a fan of Stephen Hough, and thats not being biased because he was born in the very village where I live (Heswall, just north of Chester UK).
He returned 'home' last year and gave a public master class with some students. Fascinating to hear his views. I certainly learned from him by being in the audience.
He also is a champion of the Spanish Composer Federico Mompou. Try his recordings of this composer.
I often play his Cancion y Danses (about 12 of them altogether).