Search - Franz Liszt, Stephen Hough :: Liszt: Piano Works

Liszt is Hough's best composer

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 04/25/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Every pianist has a composer who brings out his best, and in Stephen Hough's case, it's Liszt. From his rollicking attack in the Mephisto Waltz you can hear that Hough isn't going to dress the music up in tie and tails. He tosses offs Liszt's gimcracks and whizbangs in high spirits, but he's English enough not to resort to raw vulgarity (not that there's anything wrong with that). When a pianist is referred to as "stylish" in Liszt, it usually means we aren't in for any fun. Hough, however, manages to balance showmanship with musicality, reminding us that being musical is fun of another sort.



The Rhapsodie espagnole is a serious test of virtuoso tehcnique, and Hough's ease of execution illustrates why he is considered a world-class star in the UK. I'm not sure that's quite true. In his role as a pianist for all seasons, I find that Hough's playing can sound a bit standardized -- if it's Tuesday, this must be Brahms. The arrival of Flashier, bolder Russian pianists by the planeload hasn't done him any favors, either. But his account of the Rhapsodie is a lesson in mature musicianship without banging and stamping, always a relief when Liszt is in full keyboard circus mode.



As a program, this one is unusual in that it puts the showiest items up front and saves the reflective ones for later. Of the two "religious" works -- pardon the quotation marks, but Liszt in church feels like humbug to me -- I like the quiet Benediction more than the tinkling St. Francis, but Hough is tempered and respectful in both. My enthusiasm level rises whenever I hear the travel pieces from Liszt's Annees de pelerinage, especially the ones from Sqitzerland. Hough gives us two familiar items from Italy, where the fountains of the villa d'Este sparkle ad a reading of Dante stirs Liszt's heart. It's only in the last work that Hough lacks imagination and his refusal to throw off too many sparks works against him. Otherwise, this is a satisfying recital that barely takes a misstep



Here's the program listing--

Liszt:

Mephisto Waltz No. 1



Rhapsodie espagnole, S254



Legende S.175 No. 1, St Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds



Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude, S. 173 No. 3



Après une lecture du Dante, fantasia quasi sonata (Années de pèlerinage II, S. 161 No. 7)



Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este (Années de pèlerinage III, S. 163 No. 4)"