Hearing Stephen Hough over the course of one of music’s most exhilarating odysseys is not an opportunity to be missed, especially when that odyssey encompasses the ?ve piano concertos of Beethoven. Recorded following a cycle of live performances in Helsinki, this magni?cent set is sure to be recognized as one of Hough’s most important recordings.
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REVIEWS:
Hough’s individualities of phrasing and subtleties of pedalling are all contained within a relatively Classical sense of order. He brings splendour to the greater grandiosity of the Emperor concerto, but never seems tempted to inflate it into a prototypical Rachmaninov as some of his eminent predecessors have. Lintu steers a judiciousRead more course between Romantic indulgence and ‘authentic’ briskness in his choice of tempos and draws crisp, bright textures from what sounds like relatively modest orchestral forces.
– BBC Music Magazine
It is a tribute to the quality of Stephen Hough’s musicianship that the new cycle’s most memorable performance should be that of Beethoven’s Janus-like Third Piano Concerto, the one – on record at least – that has often proved the most elusive.
– Gramophone
Steven Hough makes the most companionable guide to this cycle, his instinctive good taste saving him from histrionics, his equally instinctive intuition allowing him to unlock moments of unexpected beauty.
– International Piano
The sparks struck between the orchestra's crisp responsiveness and Hough’s immaculate blend of imagination and control are considerable. Magisterial one moment, wry the next, Hough is a whole orchestra in himself, and not a note is wasted.
Concerto for Piano no 1 in C major, Op. 15by Ludwig van Beethoven Performer:
Stephen Hough (Piano)
Conductor:
Hannu Lintu
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical Written: 1795; Vienna, Austria
2.
Concerto for Piano no 2 in B flat major, Op. 19by Ludwig van Beethoven Performer:
Stephen Hough (Piano)
Conductor:
Hannu Lintu
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical Written: 1793/1798; Vienna, Austria
3.
Concerto for Piano no 3 in C minor, Op. 37by Ludwig van Beethoven Performer:
Stephen Hough (Piano)
Conductor:
Hannu Lintu
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical Written: 1800; Vienna, Austria
4.
Concerto for Piano no 4 in G major, Op. 58by Ludwig van Beethoven Performer:
Stephen Hough (Piano)
Conductor:
Hannu Lintu
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical Written: 1806; Vienna, Austria
5.
Concerto for Piano no 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor"by Ludwig van Beethoven Performer:
Stephen Hough (Piano)
Conductor:
Hannu Lintu
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical Written: 1809; Vienna, Austria
