Search - Franz Liszt, Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Leopold Godowsky :: Stephen Hough's New Piano Album

A pianist's pianist performing musical gems...

Kenneth J. Luurs | Oak Park, IL USA | 08/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While not as well known to the world at large, Stephen Hough is well known among pianists. He's had the knack for finding music that has been neglected and bringing it to light. The music on this CD is a collection of gems -- whose luster Hough brings to light. If you enjoy piano music, this is a "must have" disc. Some anthologies, become tiresome. Not this one. This is an album you can put on and listen to -- and then listen to the whole disc again...and again. Then I've gone back and listened to some individual tracks still again. The music is compelling, and the performances are masterful. Let's hope for another disc such as this from the great Stephen Hough."

Exquisite,elegant,nostalgic pieces we seem to have ignored

scarecrow | Chicago, Illinois United States | 01/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you have thought the loftier magnetic emotive fields of postmodernity, its conceptual excesses as having abandoning the virtues of obvious enchantments,contentment and reveries as flowing backwards this selection here is an ardent affirmation. All the selections are a celebration of the lost world of piano elegance, of a deeply thought through timbral curiosity reserved for the character piece. We often have simply placed on the shelves of music history these elegant particles of emotion in search for loftier weightier heights via the symphony or concerto. I dare say that time has been wasted. The sentimental the lost time is here evidenced in all these selections, Schubert/Liszt Soirees de Viene easily transports one back, nostalgically for we are escaping here the turmoils of the Hapsburg and Hollenzollerns kingdoms. Likewise the ardent piano composer Leopold Godowsky here his "Alt Wien" is like a New Years celebration. You will find neglected parts of the repertoire as well here pursued by Hough. The Moszkowski is like a crosshanded tribute to Scarlatti, little impeccably crafted textures and pianistic colours are here in Etincelles. Hough's arrangement of Kalman's "Was weiss ein nie gekusster Rosenmund" is simply for seriouslovers of any persuaion, like Marlene Dietrich's "I am driven to you like a moth to a flame". Hough plays all this music with the visionary reserve the music needs, I can easily see this music being romanticized where certain chord progressions certain emotive inflections at the ends of phrases,are(rubatisized) milked for all their worth. Hough here keeps/maintains a discipline. The character pieces here of the Russian soul has also been neglected,We wanting the East to only join the West in loftier subject matter. Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky,in pairs of Humoresques have inspired memorable experiences based on simple melodies. There are as ever bit as a challenge to create as their colossol concertos. It is a skill of a different sort,but one just as vigorous creativily and challenging.Richard Rodgers is also a serious creator of the memorable from within this mileau,"Hello young Lovers" is played as you've never heard it before. This music has a sustenance that simply will not fade with time. It seesm we need this music more than ever."

A Beautiful CD

D. A Wend | Buffalo Grove, IL USA | 12/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stephen Hough has been a favorite pianist of mine since he won the Naumburg competition in 1983. For me, he is in the line of romantic pianists like Shura Cherkassky, and his choices for this CD reflect the sentimental and nostalgic piano music that was a concert staple of the past. This CD has 20 such piano works all impeccably played by Mr. Hough, including an Etude de Concert and Musical Jewel Box that were written by him. The works by Richard Rogers (Hello young lovers and Carousel Waltz) were edited by Mr. Hough and he plays them with absolute joy.



The collection included in the piano album cover quite a bit of ground from Schubert to Richard Rogers, and it is impossible to pick a favorite. Among the pieces I am fond of are Pierrette - Air de ballet by Chaminade, Moszkowski's Etincelles, Godowsky and the selections of Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. Among the Tchaikovsky works is the Sleeping Beauty Paraphrase by Eugene Pabst which Stephen Hough altered a bit. The works by Schubert (edited by Liszt and Godowsky) are light and charming. The entire CD is one of relaxing and colorful works for piano, beautifully played, that anyone who wants an alternative to more formidable music for piano will want.





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