NSO: Mark Elder, Stephen Hough

Charles T. Downey, NSO review: Mark Elder, Stephen Hough offer a spirited performance of Lizst concerto
Washington Post, January 14, 2014

Elgar, In the South (inter alia), Hallé, M. Elder (2003)

One hallmark of Christoph Eschenbach’s tenure at the National Symphony Orchestra has been innovative programming. Many concerts have balanced familiar favorites with music never before played by the ensemble, or not played in a long time. The trend continues this week under guest conductor Mark Elder, who on Thursday night led a spirited performance of Liszt’s first piano concerto, sandwiched between nostalgic renditions of tone poems by Edward Elgar and Richard Strauss.

Pianist Stephen Hough provided the fireworks in the Liszt, a slightly naughty thriller packed into 20 exciting minutes. If it seems as though Hough was just in the area, he was — playing Liszt’s second concerto with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra last year and Rachmaninoff’s first with the NSO the year before that. Hough again showed solid technique, with a whiff of the demonic in the more challenging sections and a theatrical touch that served the piece well. [Continue reading]

National Symphony Orchestra
With Mark Elder (conductor) and Stephen Hough (piano)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

RECENTLY
Elder (2008)

Hough: BSO (2013), NSO (2012)

Liszt's first concerto: BSO and Yuja Wang (2005)

Don Quixote, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (2012)