How do you feel about Stephen Hough?

[ionutz]

I mean in general.And what about his new recording of Rachmaninov piano concertos?

[xvimbi]

Great pianist! For the other question:
https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,6537.0.html

[shasta]

Some members of my family just heard Hough perform one of my favorite concertos of all time: the Saint-Saen #5.  I have to like him just for that!   

I'm hoping to catch him in Cleveland on monday.  He's slated to do the following:
Berg: Sonata, Op. 1
Schubert: G major sonata, D894
Granados: Valses Poeticas
Albeniz: Evocation & Triana (Iberia)
Debussy: Interrupted Serenade & Soirees dans Granada
Ravel: Alborada del Gracioso
Moszkowski: Caprice Espangnol

[SteinwayTony]

He's giving a masterclass at MSM on Wednesday.  Looking forward to that.

[Goldberg]

Hmm, yeah, I'm going to see him in a week from next Monday, playing the Saint-Saens 5th concerto. I wish it could be more, but that'll be it for him (the rest of the program is Ravel's Mother Goose Suite and Franck's D minor Symphony, both of which will be great I'm sure), and I just love the "Egyptian" concerto so it'll be a wonderful concert nonetheless.

[fnork]

My piano teacher remembered seeing him some ten years ago, playing one of Rachmaninovs concertos here in Gothenburg. He recalled that one thing Hough managed to do was to always play louder than the orchestra, his piano was never drenched in the sound of the orchestra. He also remembered that he was brilliant technically. He didn't miss any notes, so technically everything was perfect.
But he said that he played extremely mechanically, and for my teacher it was certainly not a night to remember. As my teacher said, he played every note perfectly, but besdides from that it wasn't interresting to listen to. He also got bad reviews from that concert, for the same reason.

Haven't listened too much to his new Rachmaninov CD, but I think it sounded okay. Although I agree with my teacher, mostly. It's not exactly the most emotional, memorable recordings of these concertos I've heard.

[jlh]

I saw him a couple of years ago in Kansas City giving a solo concert, and yes, he is very strong and his technique is practically flawless.  I don't think he missed a single note, if memory serves me correctly.  I also remember him being very musical in his approach.  It could be that he improved over time, or he had a bad night 10 years ago, but I was highly impressed by his playing at the concert I attended.

[Regulus Medtner]

I like him a lot, ever since his wonderful  recordings of Hummel concerti and Scharwenka's 4th. I also like his Rachmaninov interpretations, but not that much. Certainly above average, though.

[dinosaurtales]

He was in Portland, Oregon for a recital a few months back - very good!  He's returning this month to do a Mozart concerto -

He's definitely worth taking in!

[Nina_too]

One of my all-time favorites.  I've never heard him perform live, though-- 

That's it, "generally." 

[liszt1022]

I got to play for him in one of his masterclasses, it was awesome. He had so many good ideas. Then I saw his concert the next day, it was excellent.

[lenny]

his 'piano album' cds have some really PHENOMENAL playing, he is so elegant and beautiful in every way

his approach is like that of hamelin, and that is by no means a bad thing

[sidoze]

terribly overrated pianist. His Rachmaninov was horribly facile, and his attempt at rendering them more masculine and sober totally failed IMO. His SS is equally bad, but then that's SS so what do you expect?

[lenny]

terribly overrated pianist. His Rachmaninov was horribly facile, and his attempt at rendering them more masculine and sober totally failed IMO. His SS is equally bad, but then that's SS so what do you expect?

lol, horribly facile?!!?

and dont disrespect saint-saens - hes one of the most underrated composers out there!

hough's recordings are lean and mean, great recordings!