Stephen Hough’s French Album
This recital is full of surprises: we hear lesser-known gems from the piano repertoire, as well as works by well-known composers such as Fauré, Ravel, Debussy and Poulenc. A particular delight is Hough’s own arrangement of the Massenet song ‘Crépuscule’, an amazing and very creative transcription.
This release is both a tribute to the lyric genius which flowered in nineteenth- and twentieth-century France, and also a portrait of the musical creativity and excellence of a great pianist.
The selections are:
Alkan:
- La chanson de la folle au bord de la mer, Op.31 no.8
Bach, J S:
- Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV565
arr. Alfred Cortot & Stephen Hough
- Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor, BWV1056: arioso
arr. Alfred Cortot
Chabrier:
- Pièces pittoresques (10): No. 2, Mélancolie
Chaminade:
- Automne, Op. 35 No. 2
Debussy:
- Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque)
Delibes:
- Sylvia – Pizzicato
arr. Stephen Hough
Fauré:
- Nocturne No. 6 in D flat major, Op. 63
- Improvisation in C sharp minor, Op. 84 No. 5
- Impromptu No. 5 in F sharp minor Op. 102
- Barcarolle No. 5 in F sharp minor Op. 66
Liszt:
- Réminiscences de La juive – Fantaisie brillante S409a
Massenet:
- Crépuscule
arr. Stephen Hough
Poulenc:
- Mélancolie
- Nocturne No. 4 in C minor ‘Bal fantôme’
- 15 Improvisations, No. 8 in A minor
Ravel:
- Alborada del gracioso (Miroirs No. 4)
Performed by Stephen Hough, piano
Stephen Hough presents a delightful program of French music, played with the technical perfection and total command of the music’s lyrical and expressive world.
Here is Stephen Hough performing the Bach/Cortot/Hough Toccata and Fugue in D minor
And next, here is Stephen Hough playing the Prélude, Choral and Fugue by César Franck
http://youtu.be/crsgnAowZ2Y
And finally, one of my great favorites: Stephen Hough playing Rameau as an encore in New York City:
Tags: Stephen Hough, pianist, French album