STEPHEN HOUGH: THE ERATO YEARS 1987-1999 (9 CDS) WARNER CLASSICS

Some of Stephen Hough’s most exquisite recordings come from his collaborations with EMI and Virgin Classics during this early period, offering a taste of the pianist’s impeccable touch, his musical and intellectual rigor, and his fondness for the short showpieces that filled late 19th-century salons and peppered the 78 rpm records of golden-age pianists. In the two all-Liszt recitals, Stephen Hough is also in his element, creating atmospheric colors, with notes flowing like streams of pearls, shaping and magnifying the dramatic depth of these works. From Mozart to Schumann, Brahms to Britten, looking back at the great virtuoso tradition while looking forward through his own arrangements, Stephen Hough presents, through these early recordings, a fascinating portrait of a young artist whose brilliant, artistic intellect and appetite for creativity remains unmatched today.



– Disc 1 –

MOZART
1 Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: I. Allegro Maestoso
2 Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: II. Andante
3 Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: III. Allegro Vivace Assai
4 Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major, K. 271 “Jeunehomme”: I. Allegro
5 Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major, K. 271 “Jeunehomme”: II. Andantino
6 Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major, K. 271 “Jeunehomme”: III. Rondeau. Presto

Halle Orchestra, Bryden Thomson

– Disc 2 –

The Piano Album, Vol. 1
1 2 Fantasy Pieces, Op. 17: No. 2, Witches’ Dance
2 6 Polish Songs, S. 480: No. 1, Mädchens Wunsch
3 3 Songs, Op. 3: No. 2, Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal (Arr. Hough)
4 6 Songs, Op. 25: No. 2, the Fuchsia Tree (Arr. Hough)
5 6 Concert Études, Op. 28: No. 6 in F minor, Capriccio
6 6 Humoresques de Concert, Op. 14, Cahier I “À L’antique”: No. 1, Menuet Célèbre
7 Miscellanea, Op. 16: No. 4, Nocturne in B-Flat Major
8 2 Études de Concert, Op. 1: No. 2 in A-Flat Major (Also Attributed to Moszkowski)
9 Melodie in E minor, Op. 8
10 3 Compositions, Op. 3: No. 1, Caprice-Burlesque
11 The Sound of Music: My Favourite Things (Arr. Hough)
12 4 Indian Love Lyrics: No. 3, Kashmiri Love Song (Arr. Hough)
13 3 Piano Pieces, Op. 33 No. 3, the Music Box “Tabatière À Musique”
14 Le Carnaval Des Animaux: XIV. Le Cygne (Arr. Godowsky)
15 Papillons
16 Java Suite “Phonoramas”, Book III: The Gardens of Buitenzorg
17 Waltz in a Major, Op. 2
18 En Route, Op. 9
19 3 Morceaux Poétiques, Op. 42: No. 2, Siciliano
20 Caprice Espagnol, Op. 37

– Disc 3 –

LISZT
1 Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514
2 Années de Pèlerinage, Supplément “Venezia E Napoli”, S. 162: No. 3, Tarantella
3 Rhapsodie Espagnole, S. 254 “Folies D’espagne Et Jota Aragonesa”
4 Harmonies Poétiques Et Religieuses III, S. 173: No. 4, Pensée Des Morts
5 2 Légendes, S. 175: No. 1, Saint François D’assise, la Prédication Aux Oiseaux
6 Harmonies Poétiques Et Religieuses III, S. 173: No. 3, Bénédiction de Dieu Dans la Solitude

– Disc 4 –

SCHUMANN
1 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft I: No. 1, Lebhaft
2 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft I: No. 2, Innig
3 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft I: No. 3, Mit Humor
4 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft I: No. 4, Ungeduldig
5 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft I: No. 5, Einfach
6 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft I: No. 6, Sehr Rasch
7 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft I: No. 7, Nicht Schnell
8 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft I: No. 8, Frisch
9 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft I: No. 9, Lebhaft
10 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft II: No. 10, Balladenmäßig. Sehr Rasch
11 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft II: No. 11, Einfach
12 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft II: No. 12, Mit Humor
13 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft II: No. 13, Wild Und Lustig
14 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft II: No. 14, Zart Und Singend
15 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft II: No. 15, Frisch
16 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft II: No. 16, Mit Gutem Humor
17 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft II: No. 17, Wie Aus Der Ferne
18 Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Heft II: No. 18, Nicht Schnell
19 Album FÜR Die Jugend, Op. 68: No. 21, Andante Espressivo
20 Album FÜR Die Jugend, Op. 68: No. 26, Moderato E Espressivo
21 Album FÜR Die Jugend, Op. 68: No. 30, Lento Assai
22 Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17: I. Durchaus Phantastisch Und Leidenschaftlich Vorzutragen
23 Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17: II. Mässig – Durchweg Leise Zu Halten
24 Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17: III. Langsam Getragen – Durchweg Leise Zu Halten

– Disc 5 –

BRAHMS
1 Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83: I. Allegro Non Troppo
2 Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83: II. Allegro Appassionato
3 Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83: III. Andante
4 Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83: IV. Allegretto Grazioso

BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis

– Disc 6 –

BRITTEN: Music for Solo Piano; Music for Two Pianos
1 Holiday Diary, Op. 5: I. Early Morning Bathe
2 Holiday Diary, Op. 5: II. Sailing
3 Holiday Diary, Op. 5: III. Funfair
4 Holiday Diary, Op. 5: IV. Night
5 3 Character Pieces: No. 1, John
6 3 Character Pieces: No. 2, Daphne
7 3 Character Pieces: No. 3, Michael
8 Night Piece “Notturno”
9 Sonata Romantica “Moderato and Nocturne”: I. Moderato
10 Sonata Romantica “Moderato and Nocturne”: II. Nocturne
11 12 Variations for Piano
12 5 Waltzes: No. 1, Rather Fast and Nervous
13 5 Waltzes: No. 2, Quick, with Wit
14 5 Waltzes: No. 3, Dramatic
15 5 Waltzes: No. 4, Rhythmic, Not Fast
16 5 Waltzes: No. 5, Variations. Quiet and Simple
17 2 Lullabies for Two Pianos: No. 1
18 2 Lullabies for Two Pianos: No. 2, Lullaby for a Retired Colonel
19 Mazurka Elegiaca for Two Pianos, Op. 23 No. 2
20 Introduction and Rondo Alla Burlesca for Two Pianos, Op. 23 No. 1: Introduction –
21 Introduction and Rondo Alla Burlesca for Two Pianos, Op. 23 No. 1: Rondo Alla Burlesca

with Ronan O’Hora, piano

– Disc 7 –

LISZT: AN ITALIAN RECITAL
1 Ave Maria IV, S. 545
2 Années de Pèlerinage, Troisième Année “Italie”, S. 163: No. 2, Aux Cyprès de la Villa D’este I
3 Années de Pèlerinage, Troisième Année “Italie”, S. 163: No. 3, Aux Cyprès de la Villa D’este II
4 Années de Pèlerinage, Troisième Année “Italie”, S. 163: No. 4, Les Jeux D’eau À la Villa D’este
5 Recueillement, S. 204
6 La Lugubre Gondola, S. 200 (1882 Version)
7 La Lugubre Gondola, S. 200 (1885 Version)
8 Années de Pèlerinage, Deuxième Année “Italie”, S. 161: No. 7, Après Une Lecture Du Dante. Fantasia Quasi Sonata
9 Ave Maria FÜR Die Grosse Klavierschule Von Lebert Und Stark, S. 182 “Die Glocken Von Rom”

– Disc 8 –

THE PIANO ALBUM, VOL. 2
1 Variations Brillantes, Op. 14
2 The Enchanted Nymph
3 Spanisches Liederspiel, Op. 74: No. 10, Der Kontrabandiste (Arr. Tausig)
4 2 Melodies, Op. 3: No. 1 in F Major, Moderato Assai
5 Gargoyles, Op. 29: I. Presto
6 Gargoyles, Op. 29: II. Adagio Semplice, Ma Con Molto Rubato
7 Gargoyles, Op. 29: III. Allegro Moderato
8 Gargoyles, Op. 29: IV. Presto Feroce
9 The Musical Snuffbox
10 A Musical Snuffbox, Op. 32
11 Études de Style Et de Perfectionnement, Op. 14: No. 1, Agilité
12 4 Indian Love Lyrics: No. 2, Till I Wake (Arr. Hough)
13 7 Elizabethan Lyrics, Op. 12: No. 1, Weep You No More (Arr. Hough)
14 The King and I: March of the Royal Siamese Children (Arr. Hough)
15 Valse Mignonne
16 6 Klavierstücke, Op. 15: No. 1, Serenata
17 Partita for Solo Violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: VII. Tempo Di Borea (Arr. Saint-Saëns)
18 Triakontameron “30 Moods and Scenes”: No. 25, Memories
19 L’arlésienne, Op. 23, WD 28: No. 19, Mélodrame. Adagietto (Arr. Tausig)
20 Hungarian Gypsy Airs

– Disc 9 –

BRAHMS
1 Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15: I. Maestoso
2 Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15: II. Adagio
3 Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15: III. Rondo. Allegro Non Troppo

BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis