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Track Listings
| 1. Capriccio brillant in B Minor |
| 2. Molto Allegro Con Fuoco |
| 3. Andante - Allegretto Tranquillo - Andante |
| 4. Presto - Molto Allegro E Vivace |
| 5. Rondo brillant in E Flat Major |
| 6. Allegro Appassionato |
| 7. Adagio; Molto sostenuto |
| 8. Finale, presto scherzando |
| 9. Serenade and allegro giocoso in B minor |
Product Description
Review
'The soft, stylish arpeggios that open the first work on the disc announce immediately that something special is on the way. Hough is now clearly first recommendation in the concertos' --Gramophone
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Mrs T Brown
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
There is a great sense of elation with this wonderful recording of Felix Mendelssohn's two Piano Concertos and three pieces for Piano and Orchestra. Stephen Hough's performance is thoroughly delightful, wholeheartedly fulfilling the artistic and virtuoso requirements of the composer. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Lawrence Foster, give exquisite support without anyway attempting to outdo the soloist. The excellent unbiased digital sound reproduction was recorded at Dudley Town Hall in January 1997.
Format:Audio CD
Robert Schumann, while not one of favourite composers or critics, I think described Mendelssohn's 2nd piano concerto best: "This concerto, to be sure, will offer virtuosos little in which to show off their monstrous dexterity. Mendelssohn gives them nothing to do that they have not already done a hundred times before... (But) Let us enjoy this fleeting gift!"
The same can be said for all of his works for piano and orchestra, all of which are contained on the disc. They really are wonderful pieces of music that you will love the first time you hear them, and can enjoy time and time again, very similar to Hummel, Field and Chopin.
Stephen Hough is a amazing pianist, though my only criticism of the disc is that it seems as though the tempo has been unnecessarily increased just to get all of the works on to one CD! I own another recording of these works on the Naxos label recording by Benjamin Frith which I feel does the Capriccio Brilliant (an absolutely amazing piece) much better justice by playing it a much more sensible tempo; Stephen Hough an co. race through it at break-neck speed, so much so that I unable to listen to it. As for the 1st concerto I would again recommend the alternative recording for this work.
However the 2nd concerto and the Serenade (not present on the Naxos recording) is where this recording really excels. Both are played perfectly in my opinion and have given me many hours of entertainment.
The Rondo Brilliant has yet to do anything for me on either recording, but it's maybe just not my cup of tea!
The same can be said for all of his works for piano and orchestra, all of which are contained on the disc. They really are wonderful pieces of music that you will love the first time you hear them, and can enjoy time and time again, very similar to Hummel, Field and Chopin.
Stephen Hough is a amazing pianist, though my only criticism of the disc is that it seems as though the tempo has been unnecessarily increased just to get all of the works on to one CD! I own another recording of these works on the Naxos label recording by Benjamin Frith which I feel does the Capriccio Brilliant (an absolutely amazing piece) much better justice by playing it a much more sensible tempo; Stephen Hough an co. race through it at break-neck speed, so much so that I unable to listen to it. As for the 1st concerto I would again recommend the alternative recording for this work.
However the 2nd concerto and the Serenade (not present on the Naxos recording) is where this recording really excels. Both are played perfectly in my opinion and have given me many hours of entertainment.
The Rondo Brilliant has yet to do anything for me on either recording, but it's maybe just not my cup of tea!
By I. Giles
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
This disc, recorded in 1997, enters a fairly competitive field. One of the earliest successes of the stereo era was provided by Perahia but that recording now sounds too closely balanced with something of a 'boxy' sound. Later successes include Howard Shelley on Chandos followed by Thibaudet on Decca. Both of these pianists clearly demonstrated their digital prowess in well recorded and enjoyable performances. However, this latest disc in the series of Romantic Piano Concertos on Hyperion has claims to be considered the finest yet.
Stephen Hough is possessed of a digital dexterity that perfectly suits the endless cascades of notes to be heard, and enjoyed, in all the outer movements of these two concertos. He also plays the central movements with sympathetic simplicity. His slightly cool approach suits the style of the music very well as there is more than a little of the Classical period about their composition. Mendelssohn was very much on the cusp of the transition from the Classical to Romantic periods and, as such, this disc only just qualifies as an entry into the 'Romantic Period Concertos' category.
The disc is generously filled at 75 minutes and the additional pieces are compositions of note including the popular Capriccio Brillant and the Rondo Brillant. The concluding Serenade and Allegro giocoso is less well known but shares the same stream of melody and pyrotechnics. All these pieces are played with appropriate brilliance and flair by Hough who is well supported by Foster and the orchestra. The recording is well up to good Hyperion standards.
I would therefore suggest that this fine disc is likely to give many people a great deal of pleasure and that it warrants a place on any short-list of discs of this repertoire that purchasers might wish to consider seriously either as an 'only' buy or as part of a collection of comparative performances.
Stephen Hough is possessed of a digital dexterity that perfectly suits the endless cascades of notes to be heard, and enjoyed, in all the outer movements of these two concertos. He also plays the central movements with sympathetic simplicity. His slightly cool approach suits the style of the music very well as there is more than a little of the Classical period about their composition. Mendelssohn was very much on the cusp of the transition from the Classical to Romantic periods and, as such, this disc only just qualifies as an entry into the 'Romantic Period Concertos' category.
The disc is generously filled at 75 minutes and the additional pieces are compositions of note including the popular Capriccio Brillant and the Rondo Brillant. The concluding Serenade and Allegro giocoso is less well known but shares the same stream of melody and pyrotechnics. All these pieces are played with appropriate brilliance and flair by Hough who is well supported by Foster and the orchestra. The recording is well up to good Hyperion standards.
I would therefore suggest that this fine disc is likely to give many people a great deal of pleasure and that it warrants a place on any short-list of discs of this repertoire that purchasers might wish to consider seriously either as an 'only' buy or as part of a collection of comparative performances.
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