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Pianist and polymath Stephen Hough performs works by player-composers with spiritual overtones including Schubert, Franck, Liszt and his own Third Piano Sonata.

British pianist and polymath Stephen Hough brings a programme of player-composers to this year's Edinburgh International Festival recital. Schubert's introverted Sonata in A minor written after a nearly fatal bout of syphilis has a tragic and fatalistic trajectory towards death. This complements César Franck's Prelude, Chorale and Fugue - inspired by the master of this form, JS Bach, and revealing Franck's need to write spiritually as a reaction against the many showpieces of the day. Stephen Hough's own Piano Sonata III 'Trinitas' is a commission from the Catholic magazine The Tablet, celebrating their 125th anniversary, and received its premiere in October 2015 in London. As he says himself it 'is not a great declaration of faith, but just an abstract idea of three as a concept'. Hough rounds off the recital with the contrasting dazzling virtuosity of piano-composer Liszt pianist.

Schubert: Sonata in A minor, D784
Franck: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue

11.45 Interval
Donald Macleod introduces recordings by baritone Florian Boesch, also appearing at the Edinburgh International Festival

12.05
Hough: Piano Sonata III 'Trinitas'
Liszt: Valses Oubliées Nos 1 and 2
Liszt: Transcendental Etudes Nos 11 and 10.

2 hours

Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata in A minor D 784

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
  • César Franck

    Prelude, Chorale and Fugue

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
  • Franz Schubert

    An die Musik

    Performer: Florian Boesch. Performer: Malcolm Martineau.
  • Franz Schubert

    Du bist die Ruh

    Performer: Florian Boesch. Performer: Malcolm Martineau.
  • Franz Schubert

    Gruppe aus dem Tartarus

    Performer: Florian Boesch. Performer: Malcolm Martineau.
  • Franz Schubert

    Der Gott und die Bajadere

    Performer: Florian Boesch. Performer: Malcolm Martineau.
  • Sir Stephen Hough

    Piano Sonata III 'Trinitas'

  • Franz Liszt

    Valse Oubliée no 1 in F sharp minor S 215 1

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
  • Franz Liszt

    Valse Oubliée No 2 in A flat S 215 2

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
  • Franz Liszt

    Etude d'exécution transcendante No 11 in D flat S 139 11 'Harmonies du Soir'

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
  • Franz Liszt

    Etude d'exécution transcendante No 10 in F minor S 139 10

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
  • Gustav Mahler

    EIF 18 Aug: Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen

    Singer: Magdalena Kožená. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Love and Longing.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 018.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Rückert-Lieder, Liebst Du Um Schönheit

    Singer: Magdalena Kožená. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Love and Longing.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 014.

Broadcast

  • Thu 18 Aug 2016 11:00