The French Album

“a substantial feast of of masterly pianism...Hough can be too coolly objective at times but in this repertoire, perhaps paradoxically, the expressive simplicity of his playing can make your eyes burn. In Clair de lune and Chaminade's once ubiquitous Automne, now rarely heard, Hough conjures up a heart-catching melancholy that put me in mind of Cherkassy. I can't offer higher praise.” --Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2012

“it's a superlative performance [of Alborada del gracioso] by any standards, including repeated notes that turn me green with envy.” --BBC Music Magazine, October 2012 ***

GRAMOPHONE CHOICE
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW 'OUTSTANDING' AWARD
THE SUNDAY TIMES CLASSICAL CD OF THE WEEK
MAIL ON SUNDAY CLASSICAL CD OF THE WEEK

'Once again, Stephen Hough's consummate artistry extends to inspirational programme building … The Fauré group is ravishingly contrasted, with a fluency and limpid style supported by all the necessary backbone and sense of direction to make the composer's tortuous harmonic twists sound as natural as speech … Chez Poulenc, the constantly shifting balance of melody, countermelody and accompaniment is defined by subtlety of dynamic shading, deft pedal work and brushstroke rubato … Even by Hough standards the whole enterprise is a tour-de-force and easily the most satisfying disc of piano music I've encountered so far this year' --International Record Review

'It is a stroke of genius to end with the Liszt/Halévy Réminiscences de 'La juive'. Hough makes this Fantaisie brilliante a true tour-de-force … A terrific disc' --International Piano Magazine