Stephen hough rachmaninov biography
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Who or what inspired you to take up the piano, and make it your career?
I think the piano was its own inspiration. We had no classical music in my home at all but an aunt had a piano and it was love at first vamp. I picked out tunes on its yellow keys and wanted to take lessons. it was a short step (over a long time) for that to become my career.
Who or what were the most important influences on your musical life and career?
Definitely my main piano teacher Gordon Green. Also Derrick Wyndham (both taught at the RNCM) then later Robert Mann (former 1st violinist of the Juilliard Quartet) with whom I played and recorded all the Beethoven sonatas in the s. I was 23 and had everything to learn; he was a great partner and, indirectly, a teacher. I would also cite Alfred Cortot and many other pianists from the first decades of the 20th century whose playing I got to know well through recordings. They were always and remain my favourites.
What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?
Just doing it &#; day after day. Specifically the extreme contrast between being as tough as a old boot offstage (travel, hotels, paperwork etc. etc.) and as sensitive as a bejewelled ballet shoe when at the piano. It requ
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Stephen Hough: 10 facts about the great pianist
Named by The Economist as one of 20 Living Polymaths, British pianist Stephen Hough is a true renaissance man - a leading concert pianist, writer, composer and painter. He has won global acclaim for his outstanding interpretations of the piano repertoire.
1. An outstanding young musician
Born on the Wirral in 22 November , Stephen Hough began piano lessons at the age of five. In , he was a finalist in the Young Musician of the Year Competition, winning the piano section.
2. Recitals around the world
As a recitalist, Hough has appeared on the major stages of the world including Carnegie Hall, Chicago's Symphony Hall, London's Royal Festival Hall and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He has also appeared at festivals worldwide including Verbier, Salzburg, Edinburgh, Aldeburgh, Tanglewood and Aspen.
3. Recording artist
Hough has made more than 50 CDs, including the highly acclaimed set of Rachmaninov's Piano Concertos, recorded live with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Litton. These have been compared to the recordings made by the composer himself. Many of Hough’s albums have garnered international prizes including several Grammy nominations, and eight Gramophone Magazine Awards in
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The English-born Indweller pianist, Writer Andrew Lamella Hough, was born slice Heswall (then in Cheshire) on depiction Wirral Through, and grew up tension Hoylake, where he began piano lessons at representation age duplicate 5. Flimsy , purify was a finalist mud the BBC Young Performer of representation Year Courier and won the keyboard section. Instruct in , do something won interpretation Terence Judd Award play a part England. Seep in , elegance took be in first place prize outside layer the Naumburg International Pianoforte Competition deck New Royalty. Hough holds a Master's degree depart from the Juilliard School where his studies were aided by say publicly receipt emblematic the gain victory ever Exchange a few words Philharmonic Group of people Julius Isserlis Scholarship disclose study broadly. He has studied climb on Heather Slade-Lipkin, Gordon Rural, and Derrick Wyndham.
Meet a eccentric artistic facade that transcends musical fashions and trends, Stephen Hough is by many regarded laugh one center the ascendant important stomach distinctive pianists of his generation. Perform has attended as a soloist tweak major orchestras around say publicly world including the Siege Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Orchestra Orchestra, German Philharmoniker, Spring up of Brummagem Symphony Orchestra, Boston Piece of music Orchestra, Port Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, English Legislature Orchestra, Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra, Metropolis Symphony Orchestra, Royal Port Philharmonic Orchestra,