Instrumental Selections series

“The most dazzling piano disc of the year” The Guardian

“A collection of miniature piano rarities and transcriptions put together to fascinating effect.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2007

‘Hough’s pianism is a constant source of wonder—every chord and phrase perfectly judged’ Classic FM Magazine

“The very opening item, Rawsthorne's four Bagatelles, instantly makes it clear that this latest recital disc from Stephen Hough has a different aim from his previous collections of charmers.
Gritty and tough, in Hough's hands sounding wonderfully pianistic, these miniatures are thoughtful and intense, balanced at the end of the disc by the final item, also by far the longest, Kenneth Leighton's Study Variations. These do not make for easy listening either, but they inspire Hough to superb pianism over six sharply characterised pieces, at times echoing Bartók in their angry energy, at others full of fantasy. What all these very varied pieces demonstrate is Hough's profound love of keyboard sound and textures, and his rare gift of bringing out the full tonal beauty.
It's evidence, too, of Hough's wizardry that he makes the Elgar piece, In Smyrna, sound so magical. In his hands it's like an improvisation with echoes of the lovely solo viola serenade in the overture, In the South. The three Bowen works are simple and song-like using an almost cabaret-style of piano writing. In all these pieces Hough's magic is presented in full, clear Hyperion sound. Thoroughly recommended.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“Stephen Hough fashions a viable programme culled from a bottomless piano bench of transcriptions, encores and other sundry ear-ticklers.
Indeed, Hough proves that one can make a well-balanced meal using only desserts. Modern pianists, to be sure, are more calorie conscious than their forebears, and Hough is no exception.
It's not his way to emphasise inner voices or linger over juicy modulatory patterns, à la Hofmann, Moiseiwitsch, Horowitz, Cortot or Cherkassky. If Hough prefers to bind Godowsky's garish counterpoints with skimmed milk rather than double cream, he's cheeky (and smart!) enough to insert his own ossias into Moskowski's Etincelles, or to retool the Tchaikovsky/ Pabst Sleeping Beauty Paraphrase to more brilliant pianistic effect. As in his previous 'Piano Albums', Hough serves up his own Rodgers & Hammerstein transcriptions. If the decorative note-spinning in 'Hello, Young Lovers' distracts from rather than enhances the eloquent original, the pianist's giddy romp through 'The Carousel Waltz' is a tour de force that brilliantly recaptures both the tender and tough-minded qualities inherent in the musical's book. Hough's own Etude de Concert gets plenty of finger-twisting mileage out of a rather un-memorable theme, harmonised, however, with clever Gershwinisms.
The unadorned Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky selections are played with heartfelt simplicity and a lean yet singing sonority.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“A delight from start to finish” The Observer

“Grainger's eclectic idiosyncratic piano transcriptions, despatched with light-fingered clarity. Strauss swoons, Stephen Foster's all of a tingle. Excellent notes, too.” BBC Music Magazine, December 2011 ****

“Musically enchanting fare … everything is played with unfaltering command … the recording and presentation are immaculate” Gramophone Magazine

“Lane boasts a fabulous technique … succulent performances” Fanfare

“Heroic stamina by Piers Lane” The Times

“A fine selection … an easy listen that often delights the ear” Pianist Magazine