<<<  <<  -- 4 --  Gillian Wills    MUSICAL INSIGHT

The second half explored the waltz through the sensual and sleek Feuillet d'Album from Five Posthumous Pieces by Chabrier and the melancholically tinged Waltz in C sharp minor Op 64 No 2 by Chopin to the hefty Mephisto Waltz by Liszt. In the latter, Hough's detailed take, informed by such a deep scholarship, technical power and musical insight, pushed this work to the limits revealing the percussive tendencies that foreshadowed Bartók's keyboard works.

While Musica Viva's representatives were concerned that the audience would trickle away instead of staying for a Q & A session with the recitalist, their fears were unfounded. This enjoyable event surveyed Hough's phenomenal powers and versatility as a musician and made an overwhelming impact. Mostly people lingered to quiz him about the selection of repertoire, his belief that performers should also compose to sharpen their gift as a player, and why he has taken out Australian citizenship. For my money, the brilliant performance of the Beethoven was the pick of the evening.