Franck: Piano Music

CDA66918

Recording details: July 1996
St George's, Brandon Hill, United Kingdom
Produced by Andrew Keener
Engineered by Tony Faulkner
Release date: February 1997
Total duration: 67 minutes 36 seconds

PREIS DER DEUTSCHEN SCHALLPLATTENKRITIK
GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE

'Only the most exalted comparisons will do for Stephen Hough's latest disc, and even they are struggling to compete. Hough has a dream-ticket combination of virtues - astonishing agility, a faultless ear for texture, fine-tuned stylistic sensibility and an exceptional understanding of harmonic and structural tensions. [His] recent Hyperion issues have given him a lot to live up to. This recital triumphantly does that' (Gramophone)

'Wonderfully played … marvellous sound. This is a first-rate issue in every respect' (Gramophone 'Soundings')

'Superb performances … Style, elegance, and a power that is awe-inspiring when unleashed. César Franck has never been better served' (Classic CD)

'Un des pianistes les plus virtuoses au monde à ce jour, non seulement dans la vitesse et le prestesse, mais surtout dans l'imagination et la qualité sonore. Avec une telle maîtrise du clavier et des timbres, une telle lisibilité polyphonique, une telle intelligence du texte, Hough va à mon sens plus loin que bien d'autres pianistes, même les plus valeureux dans la compréhension profonde de cette musique' (Répertoire, France)

'It is hard to imagine better performances' (BBC Music Magazine)

'A superb production!' (Fanfare, USA)

'Must take pride of place among recordings of this repertoire. A most distinguished record in every way' (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)

'Playing of exquisite poise, intrepid technical brilliance and extraordinary insight. A peach of an issue' (Hi Fi News)

‘Hough at his magical best’ (Classic FM Magazine)

César Franck (1822-1890)

Piano Music

Stephen Hough (piano)

Download all MP3 £7.99Download all FLAC £7.99Download all ALAC £7.99Buy by post £13.99

LISTEN TO ALL EXTRACTS

	MP3	FLAC	ALAC
	£2.30	£2.30	£2.30	Prélude, Choral et Fugue M21 [18'22] English Français Deutsch
1	£0.60	£0.60	£0.60	Prélude: Moderato [4'55]
2	£0.85	£0.85	£0.85	Choral: Poco più lento [6'33]
3	£0.85	£0.85	£0.85	Fugue: Tempo I [6'54]
	£2.45	£2.45	£2.45	Prélude, Aria et Final M23 [19'43] English Français Deutsch
4	£1.00	£1.00	£1.00	Prélude: Allegro moderato e maestoso [8'08]
5	£0.65	£0.65	£0.65	Aria: Lento [5'21]
6	£0.80	£0.80	£0.80	Final: Allegro molto ed agitato [6'14]
7	£1.45	£1.45	£1.45	Troisième Choral M40 [11'23] arr. Stephen Hough (b1961) English Français Deutsch
8	£0.30	£0.30	£0.30	Danse lente M22 [2'28] English Français Deutsch
9	£1.75	£1.75	£1.75	Grand caprice M13 Op 5 [13'43] English Français Deutsch
10	£0.25	£0.25	£0.25	Les plaintes d'une poupée M20 [1'57]

This recording contains all of the mature piano music by César Franck, and includes Stephen Hough's own stunning transcription of the Troisième Choral, originally composed for organ. Also featured is the Grand Caprice, one of numerous 'salon'-type pieces Franck composed in his youth.

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Introduction EnglishFrançaisDeutsch

It is a strange paradox that while organists comment how Franck wrote for the organ like a pianist, pianists point out how ‘organ-like’ his piano music is. Both of these opinions have a certain validity, however, because although he spent most of his mature years of creativity in the organ loft Franck began his musical life as a pianist, taking up his first organ position as a means to supplement a meagre living teaching the piano. It was only when he was appointed organist at Ste-Clotilde in 1858 that he began seriously to study the use of the pedals—he had a Pleyel practice pedal-board delivered to his home to help him to use this ‘third hand’ with greater ease.

Hyperion Records