Some anthologies, become tiresome. Not this one. This is an album you can put on and listen to -- and then listen to the whole disc again...and again. Then I've gone back and listened to some individual tracks still again. The music is compelling, and the performances are masterful.

Let's hope for another disc such as this from the great Stephen Hough.


Exquisite,elegant,nostalgic pieces we seem to have ignored   January 1, 2001
scarecrow (Chicago, Illinois United States)
18 out of 29 found this review helpful

If you have thought the loftier magnetic emotive fields of postmodernity, its conceptual excesses as having abandoning the virtues of obvious enchantments,contentment and reveries as flowing backwards this selection here is an ardent affirmation. All the selections are a celebration of the lost world of piano elegance, of a deeply thought through timbral curiosity reserved for the character piece. We often have simply placed on the shelves of music history these elegant particles of emotion in search for loftier weightier heights via the symphony or concerto. I dare say that time has been wasted. The sentimental the lost time is here evidenced in all these selections, Schubert/Liszt Soirees de Viene easily transports one back, nostalgically for we are escaping here the turmoils of the Hapsburg and Hollenzollerns kingdoms. Likewise the ardent piano composer Leopold Godowsky here his "Alt Wien" is like a New Years celebration. You will find neglected parts of the repertoire as well here pursued by Hough. The Moszkowski is like a crosshanded tribute to Scarlatti, little impeccably crafted textures and pianistic colours are here in Etincelles. Hough's arrangement of Kalman's "Was weiss ein nie gekusster Rosenmund" is simply for seriouslovers of any persuaion, like Marlene Dietrich's "I am driven to you like a moth to a flame". Hough plays all this music with the visionary reserve the music needs, I can easily see this music being romanticized where certain chord progressions certain emotive inflections at the ends of phrases,are(rubatisized) milked for all their worth. Hough here keeps/maintains a discipline.

The character pieces here of the Russian soul has also been neglected,We wanting the East to only join the West in loftier subject matter. Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky,in pairs of Humoresques have inspired memorable experiences based on simple melodies. There are as ever bit as a challenge to create as their colossol concertos. It is a skill of a different sort,but one just as vigorous creativily and challenging.

Richard Rodgers is also a serious creator of the memorable from within this mileau,"Hello young Lovers" is played as you've never heard it before. This music has a sustenance that simply will not fade with time. It seesm we need this music more than ever.