STEPHEN HOUGH IN RECITAL

 

1 FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847) Variations sérieuses Op 54 [10'38]

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Piano Sonata No 32 in C minor Op 111 [24'47]

2 Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato [8'22] 3 Arietta: Adagio molto, semplice e cantabile [16'19]

4 CARL MARIA VON WEBER (1786–1826) Aufforderung zum Tanz Op 65 [8'04]

5 FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN (1810–1849) Waltz in C sharp minor Op 64 No 2 [3'27]

6 FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN (1810–1849) Waltz in A flat major Op 34 No 1 [5'41]

7 CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921) Valse nonchalante Op 110 [3'34]

8 EMMANUEL CHABRIER (1841–1894) Feuillet d’album [1'32]

9 CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862–1918) La plus que lente [4'14]

10 FRANZ LISZT (1811–1886) Valse oubliée No 1 S215/1 [3'01]

11 FRANZ LISZT (1811–1886) Mephisto Waltz No 1 ‘Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke’ S514 [11'18]

12 TRADITIONAL arranged by STEPHEN HOUGH (b1961) Matilda’s Waltz [2'52]

 

Stephen Hough - piano

 

The Hough discography is enhanced by this delightful recital disc from the winner of the Gramophone Gold Disc Award, acclaimed recently as ‘Britain’s finest pianist’ (Sunday Times), and as one of the six greatest pianists performing in the world today (The Guardian).

 

The selection of works reflects a concert programme which Stephen performed all round the world in the 2007/8 season, with a quirkily-addressed theme of Variations and Waltzes. These appear in many guises: for instance the ‘first half’ concludes with Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No 32 in C minor, with its extraordinary set of variations in the second movement. Then Stephen takes the listener on a whirlwind tour of the waltz, performing some of the triumphs of the genre with his trademark immaculate polish and unerring style. The disc ends with some typical Hough whimsy—as ever, utterly charming and full of surprises.

 

Hyperion CDA67686