Interview with Stephen Hough

[vlhorowitz]

Hi Everyone,

Here is our interview with Stephen Hough, who will be performing at Herbst Theater in San Francisco this Sunday afternoon.

As always, thank you all for reading and have a wonderful week !

https://www.examiner.com/piano-in-san-francisco/interview-with-pianist-stephen-hough

[general disarray]

This brief excerpt from the wonderful Hough interview:

"Actually when I agreed to write my blog for the Telegraph I stipulated that I would not write music criticism – I would not ‘review’ colleagues’ concerts or recordings. I think today it’s generally a healthier situation than in the past. There was a time when a bad review in a newspaper from the critic could mean the end of a career. Now with the internet there are many opinions floating around. I cling to Richter’s response when asked if he taught: “No.  What if I were wrong?” I think this should have an echo at the back of every critic’s mind – an openness to the possibility of changing one’s mind and a realization that everything is subjective."

This is so typically admirable of Stephen Hough -- a thoughtful man, a brilliant musician.  From here on out, every time I read some poster here on Pianostreet trashing an artist's work with off-handed, thoughtless criticism, I'll think of Hough's position, stated above, on criticizing other artists.

Thanks, vhorowitz, for posting this link.    

[general disarray]

Here we have an interview with Stephen Hough and I'm the only respondent.  What??

The major topics under consideration -- that get a response -- are those such as "my pinkie sticks out" and "I'm worried about carpal tunnel syndrome since I can't play a C Major scale without pain." Is any REAL pianist going to raise the bar out there?  Is anyone going to rise above the puerile comments of 14-year-old bangers who have delusions of grandeur?  Do any of you wankers care what Stephen Hough has to say?  Do you even know WHO HE IS??

Doesn't anyone else recognize that this website has degenerated into a a teenage fantasy blog for those with minimal talent and discipline but over-endowed with a sense of self-entitlement?  Do you even know what I mean, you Kim Kardashians of Pianism?

Probably not.  You still worry that at a level 6, you can't play Chopin Opus 10, No 1. 

[vlhorowitz]

Thank you very much for reading

[squarevince]

ooh yes... thanks very much for sharing the link.  i just happen to be in San Francisco for business this weekend & just scored a ticket!!!!