Stephen Hough - Schumann, Beethoven, Chopin: In the Night (2014)

26 Jan, 08:38
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Artist: Stephen Hough
Title: Schumann, Beethoven, Chopin: In the Night
Year Of Release: 2014
Label: Hyperion CDA67996
Genre: Classical piano solo
Quality: FLAC (image+.cue,log,scans)
Total Time: 01:16:58
Total Size: 217 MB
WebSite: Album Preview

This recital by British pianist Stephen Hough is precisely what the title suggests: a collection of "Night Music" for piano. The program features some very familiar pieces including the most famous night piece of all (even if it wasn't originally intended as such), Beethoven's Piano Sonata in C sharp minor, Op. 27/2 ("Moonlight"). Robert Schumann's Carnaval, Op. 9, refers to a night activity, a masked ball, rather than being an evocation of the night itself, and Hough's reading of these portraits are distinctly on the reflective side. In fact, taken individually, Hough's performances may be too restrained for some listeners, but the cumulative effect has the kind of spell he intends. Another unusual feature of the album is the presence of a work by Hough himself, the Piano Sonata No. 2 ("notturno luminoso"). In spite of what the subtitle might suggest, this is not a neo-Romantic nocturne but a nervous, somewhat jangling evocation of a city that never sleeps. It pulls off the trick so few contemporary compositions manage, that of holding its own in the company of Beethoven and Schumann, and it's a nice touch in a recital that updates the virtuoso concert of the 19th century in some fresh ways. Hyperion's engineering, accomplished at the Wyastone Estate concert hall, is very much attuned to Hough's artistic aims.

Tracklist:

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
1 In der Nacht (No 5 of Fantasiestücke, Op 12) [4'10]
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata in C sharp minor 'Moonlight' Op 27 No 2 [14'06]
2 Adagio sostenuto[5'08]
3 Allegretto[1'53]
4 Presto agitato[7'05]
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
5 Nocturne in C sharp minor Op 27 No 1 [5'13]
6 Nocturne in D flat major Op 27 No 2 [5'30]
Stephen Hough (b1961)
7 Piano Sonata No 2 'notturno luminoso' [18'23]
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Carnaval Op 9 [29'47]
8 No 1: Préambule: Quasi maestoso [2'12]
9 No 2: Pierrot: Moderato [1'31]
10 No 3: Arlequin: Vivo [1'02]
11 No 4: Valse noble: Un poco maestoso [2'10]
12 No 5: Eusebius: Adagio [1'37]
13 No 6: Florestan: Passionato [0'59]
14 No 7: Coquette: Vivo [1'37]
15 No 8a: Réplique: L'istesso tempo [0'48]
16 No 9: Papillons: Prestissimo [0'47]
17 No 10: ASCH–SCHA (Lettres dansantes): Presto [0'51]
18 No 11: Chiarina: Passionato [1'29]
19 No 12: Chopin: Agitato [1'21]
20 No 13: Estrella: Con affetto [0'29]
21 No 14: Reconnaissance: Animato [1'55]
22No 15: Pantalon et Colombine: Presto [1'01]
23 No 16: Valse allemande: Molto vivace [0'51]
24 No 17: Paganini (Intermezzo): Presto [1'21]
25 No 18: Aveu: Passionato [1'20]
26 No 19: Promenade: Comodo [2'39]
27 No 20: Pause: Vivo [0'15]
28 No 21: Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins: Non allegro [3'32]

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Stephen Hough - Schumann, Beethoven, Chopin: In the Night (2014)

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