Stephen Hough

Stephen Hough is widely regarded as one of the most important and distinctive pianists of his generation. From highly acclaimed performances of the central repertoire in recital, in recording, and with the world's greatest orchestras to an interest in contemporary and neglected 19th century works, he integrates the imagination and pianistic color of the past with the scholarship and intellectual rigor of the present, illuminating the very essence of the music he plays. He was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 2001 in recognition of his achievements, joining prominent scientists, writers and others who have made unique contributions to contemporary life.

Since winning first prize in the Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1983, Stephen Hough has appeared with most of the major American and European orchestras and plays recitals regularly in the major halls and concert series around the world. He is also a guest at festivals such as Salzburg, Mostly Mozart, Aspen, Ravinia, Tanglewood, Blossom, Hollywood Bowl, Edinburgh, Aldeburgh and the BBC Proms, where he has made over a dozen concerto appearances. Recent engagements include performances with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony, London Philharmonic and the orchestras of San Francisco, St. Louis, Atlanta, Detroit, Cincinnati, Toronto and Dallas.

During the 07/08 season, Mr. Hough returns to the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Chicago, National, New World and Houston symphonies; tours the US with the Russian National Orchestra lead by Vladimir Jurowski with performances in San Francisco, Seattle and Lincoln Center among others; and plays recitals in Carnegie's Zankel Hall and at Aspen and the International Gilmore Keyboard Festival. Highlights of his international appearances include performances with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Orchestra National, recitals in London and Paris and an extensive recital tour in Australia.

Stephen Hough is a Hyperion recording artist and many of his catalogue of over 40 CDs have garnered international prizes. Recordings of concertos by Rachmaninoff, Saint-Säens, Hummel, Scharwenka and Sauer, Mompou's solo piano music and two Liszt's recitals have won multiple awards, from Gramophone Magazine (seven Awards including 'Record of the Year' in 1996 and 2003), Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, Diapason d'Or, Monde de la Musique, as well as several Grammy nominations. His 2005 live recording of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos with the Dallas Symphony and Andrew Litton became the fastest selling recording in Hyperion's history, while his 1987 recording of Hummel concertos is Chandos' best-selling disc to date. His most recent release is Stephen Hough's Spanish Album and future plans include recording all of the works for piano and orchestra by Tchaikovsky with the Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vanska conducting.

Stephen Hough is also an avid writer and composer. In addition to scholarly and critically-acclaimed CD liner notes and published musical articles, his interest in theology has led to a book, The Bible as Prayer, which was published by Continuum in Spring 2007. His cello concerto was premiered in Spring 2007 by Steven Isserlis and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic with Mr. Hough on the podium and his two Masses—Mass of Innocence and Experience and Missa Mirabilis will be performed at London's Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral respectively in summer 2007. Mr. Hough has also published numerous original works and transcriptions for piano with Josef Weinberger Ltd.

Strongly committed to performing and promoting contemporary music, George Tsontakis, Lowell Liebermann and James MacMillan are among the composers who have written, or will write, newly commissioned concertos for him. As a chamber musician, Mr. Hough has collaborated with many artists and friends including Steven Isserlis, Joshua Bell, Tabea Zimmermann and Michael Collins as well as with the Emerson, Takacs and Juilliard String Quartets and the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet.

A resident of London, Stephen Hough is a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London and holds the International Chair of Piano Studies at his alma mater, the Royal Northern College in Manchester.

Biographical information provided by artist's management.