Hummel: Piano Concerto in A Minor and B Minor

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (Composer), Bryden Thomson (Conductor), English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Stephen Hough (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Stephen Hough
• Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Bryden Thomson
• Composer: Johann Nepomuk Hummel
• Audio CD (October 28, 1992)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B000000AFD
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,271 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 85: No. 1, Allegro moderato

2. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 85: No. 2, Larghetto

3. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 85: No. 3, Rondo. Allegro moderato

4. Piano Concerto in B minor, Op. 89: No. 1, Allegro moderato

5. Piano Concerto in B minor, Op. 89: No. 2, Larghetto

6. Piano Concerto in B minor, Op. 89: No. 3, Finale. Vivace

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars UTTERLY ASTONISHING!, December 17, 2004

By 

Sal A. Mander "Bryceman" (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hummel: Piano Concerto in A Minor and B Minor (Audio CD)

I based this purchase on a tiny snippet heard in the background on internet radio. The music was engaging, but what caught my ear was the playing. I purchased the disc on a sort of whim, being relatively unfamiliar with Hummel.
I am on cloud nine because I took the leap. It is a virtual tour de force by Mr. Hough.
Hummel's work, I am sure, received short shrift later because it would destroy any but the finest players. Mr. Hough proves his mettle triumphantly! By approaching these works with respect, Mr. Hough et al can drag us (and an apparently grudging musical establishment) along and teach us to appreciate these glorious concerti for the extraordinary pieces they really are.
Hough's precision and speed are supernatural; exactly the qualities required by the works. Icing on the cake is that he shows extraordinary skill in handling the dynamics & pacing as well as a keen sense of communication with the orchestra that borders on psychic. I am astonished and was moved to tears during several of the flourishes. How rare to be that moved by talent and ability in this day and age.
The orchestral accompaniment is top flight and the production quality is superior. It is a stunner on all fronts!!
Kudos to Chandos!
It beggars belief that, as good as these are, I had heard Hummel's name mentioned maybe twice and actually had only heard one trumpet piece. A sad testament to his neglect. I am a convert!!!
I cannot recommend this disc highly enough.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen Hough's first hit recording, July 10, 2006

By 

Steven Eldredge (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hummel: Piano Concerto in A Minor and B Minor (Audio CD)

This recording of the glorious Piano Concerto in A minor Opus 85, and Piano Concerto in B Minor Opus 89 by Johann Nepomuk Hummel was the first recording to bring the spectacular British pianist Stephen Hough to my attention. He went on to sign his exclusive contract with Hyperion and has produced miracle after miracle in his recordings since, winning many awards, including being the first pianist to win the coveted McArthur Award, in actuality a huge stipend given soley on already proven merit.

When I was a high school student somewhere around 1969-70 I remember buying an LP on the Turnabout label of pianist Martin Galling playing the Haydn Concerto in D major. Coupled with that well-known piece was a concerto by a composer I had never heard of, Hummel, his Opus 89. Upon playing the record I fell in love with the Hummel: it's mysterious quiet tympani opening ( in a way like that of the Beethoven Violin Concerto), it's florid rather Chopinesque writing, the sheer drive of the music. I went on to seek out as much Hummel on LP as I could, which back then wasn't much. As the years went on I heard and studied and played quite a bit more of Hummel's ouvre. When I saw this CD I immediately wanted it to replace those old cheap vinyl discs. I had no idea at that time who Stephen Hough was. Well, within minutes I was out of my chair and pacing the room! The playing was so blazing with virtuosity and elan, examples of such a gorgeous pianism that I was flabbergasted.

The Galling recordings of these concerti are full of little internal cuts, sometimes to tighten the structure, but often to avoid some real technical nightmares, such as lightning-fast passages in thirds, etc.

People like to say perfection cannot be achieved in this world, but I say it can. This recording is a case in point. It is absolutely perfect. And beautiful. And thrilling.

I would give it 10 stars if I could.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent recording of overlooked pieces, January 25, 2001

By 

Timmy (New York, Ny United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hummel: Piano Concerto in A Minor and B Minor (Audio CD)

It is very unfortunate that today, Johann Nepomuk Hummel has nearly been forgotten. Throughout the 1st half of the 19th century, he was considered an immortal. In fact, in Vienna, he was Beethoven's only real compositional and pianistic rival. These two concertos of Hummel's are fine examples of his genius. They stem from Mozart's style (Mozart was his teacher) but are more harmonically complex and more romantic. The one in a-minor directly influenced Chopin's concerto in e-minor. Although Hummel is somewhat less inventive than his contemporary Beethoven (not surprisingly), his music is elegant and wonderful. There is some mechanical passagework and excessive ornamentaion (common of Hummel and his contemporaries)in the interest of virtuosity, but both concertos are excellent examples of my favorite musical genre. This recording is an excellent one, offering both precise piano playing (Hummel's trademark) and clear orchestration. This is a must-have for fans of Mozart concertos. I strongly support anyone who plays or listens to the works of this forgotten master.