I love that man :') He is an inspiration to all those pianists who aren't from a musical background, who weren't forced into it from the age of 2, who didn't go to the Royal College of Music and have got to where they are today through sheer hard work (Although he did go to Julliard, this was postgrad after Royal Northern). An amazing man, one of the greatest pianists alive, and a credit to my country! Bravo Stephen.
I love how Stephen Hough always manages to find phrases and dialogue even in the most intricate and dense configuration e.g. 02.39 - 03.06. I've never heard it played this way before.
I have been listening to 4 interpretations of Beethoven's Emperor and Stephen plays it the best by far. He is definitely my world's no. 1 pianist and so modest and gifted. Carry on playing Stephen and entertain more audiences worldwide with your amazing talent
I love the precision, clarity and accuracy in Stephen's playing, in even the fastest and most intricate passages. His performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto by Grieg* in A minor with the Bergen Philharmonic (Andrew Litton) is far and away the best performance I have ever heard in my considerably long years. * :P
Not surprised ! Nikolai Lugansky seems to have absorbed Rachmaninoff’s soul. He understands completely what Rachmaninoff wanted. Nikolai Lugansky and Stephen Hough are the two pianists who play this piece better by far than any of the other many professional pianists.
@silverdalesapphires Richter certainly never recorded Rach 3 however it WAS certainly part of Gilels' repetoire and he recorded it in the late 1950's with Andre Cluytens. The CD (a pairing with this secording of Saint Seans' 2nd) is still available as part of EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century" series
To "mostcommonwombat'" Thanks for that. I shall have to get hold of Gilels' Rach3. Pity Richter didn't record it but there you go. I have his Rach2 with the Warsaw Phil on an old DG cassette tape that's almost worn out through constant playing in the car. That's coupled with the Schumann.
I hate how all the good pianists are largely unknown and people like Kissin, Volodos, Wang, and Bang Bang, who don't deserve their fame, are selling out concerts everywhere.
I strongly disagree that this would be better than Horowitz because of the sheer beauty of rubato and great power impact that Horowitz brings to this concerto. This version by any means isn't bad...
I think that this is up there with Kern, Ashkenazy, Berman, Gavrilov (early recordings), Kissin, Volodos, Argerich and of course, Rachmaninoff himself. I don't rate the later Horowitz recordings...too many finger-slips, sorry! I'd like to have heard Gilels and Richter play this but I don't think there are any existing recordings.....could be wrong!
Pianistically & musically very fine, he's in brilliant form here. The orchestra is competent & correct but unharmonious & stiff, a pity, as this would qualify as a "great," otherwise.
I love that man :') He is an inspiration to all those pianists who aren't from a musical background, who weren't forced into it from the age of 2, who didn't go to the Royal College of Music and have got to where they are today through sheer hard work (Although he did go to Julliard, this was postgrad after Royal Northern). An amazing man, one of the greatest pianists alive, and a credit to my country! Bravo Stephen.
Shame the clip doesn't do justice to the performance. Volume variations and sound interruptions spoil it, somewhat.
I love how Stephen Hough always manages to find phrases and dialogue even in the most intricate and dense configuration e.g. 02.39 - 03.06. I've never heard it played this way before.
I have been listening to 4 interpretations of Beethoven's Emperor and Stephen plays it the best by far. He is definitely my world's no. 1 pianist and so modest and gifted. Carry on playing Stephen and entertain more audiences worldwide with your amazing talent
Stephen is a treasure.
Wow! He plays the hell out of that! FANTASTIC!
What wonderfully clear, forceful, lyrical playing - brilliant!
Fantastic performance!
That was brilliant! Real synergy between Hough and the conductor.
Incredible.
Well that was incredible
Master of technique
Wow, I really, really wish I could write music like this.
Few composers get to the depths of the soul the way Rachmaninoff does
I love the precision, clarity and accuracy in Stephen's playing, in even the fastest and most intricate passages. His performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto by Grieg* in A minor with the Bergen Philharmonic (Andrew Litton) is far and away the best performance I have ever heard in my considerably long years.
* :P
agreed. his personality really comes across in his playing
Bravo!!!
I hope he will do a run of all 5 concerti in London sometime !
Stephen Hough ♡
Stephen is good PERIOD.
I saw Rach 3 live played by Lugansky. I cried at around 8:10. I'm a man.
Not surprised ! Nikolai Lugansky seems to have absorbed Rachmaninoff’s soul. He understands completely what Rachmaninoff wanted. Nikolai Lugansky and Stephen Hough are the two pianists who play this piece better by far than any of the other many professional pianists.
yah, I agree, a lot of the camera cuts I've seen in several piano performances were terrible! Skips frames of the most exciting parts!! =(
@silverdalesapphires Richter certainly never recorded Rach 3 however it WAS certainly part of Gilels' repetoire and he recorded it in the late 1950's with Andre Cluytens. The CD (a pairing with this secording of Saint Seans' 2nd) is still available as part of EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century" series
To "mostcommonwombat'" Thanks for that. I shall have to get hold of Gilels' Rach3. Pity Richter didn't record it but there you go. I have his Rach2 with the Warsaw Phil on an old DG cassette tape that's almost worn out through constant playing in the car. That's coupled with the Schumann.
I hate how all the good pianists are largely unknown and people like Kissin, Volodos, Wang, and Bang Bang, who don't deserve their fame, are selling out concerts everywhere.
Can someone please say who is the conductor here?? Thanks.
LOOOL
I love 6:30-7:10!
I strongly disagree that this would be better than Horowitz because of the sheer beauty of rubato and great power impact that Horowitz brings to this concerto. This version by any means isn't bad...
Is this a VHS-copy? Seems to be an awful lot of 'drop-out'?
What's wrong with Kissin? I understand why you mentioned the others.
Mind telling who the conducttor is?
@NOSEhow2LIV If we are to take Montsalgon's book as gospel, then that certainly appears to have been the case.
unfortunately, camera men are rarely musicians LOL
@mostcommonwombat Richter never recorded it cos he never played it!
Unfortunately Horowitz is dead. Hough in his recording with the Dallas reduced me to tears.
I think that this is up there with Kern, Ashkenazy, Berman, Gavrilov (early recordings), Kissin, Volodos, Argerich and of course, Rachmaninoff himself. I don't rate the later Horowitz recordings...too many finger-slips, sorry! I'd like to have heard Gilels and Richter play this but I don't think there are any existing recordings.....could be wrong!
Wonderful playing by the soloist. Too bad he had the drag the damn orchestra along. Like a race horse trying to get a milk wagon to keep up.
Pianistically & musically very fine, he's in brilliant form here. The orchestra is competent & correct but unharmonious & stiff, a pity, as this would qualify as a "great," otherwise.