Recorded in 1989,
Stephen Hough's dynamic performance of
Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83, holds up quite well, even if the sound quality is a little less than desirable. As one of the great contemporary English pianists,
Hough can be relied on to turn in a fascinating reading of practically anything, and his
Brahms is no exception. Playing with the
BBC Symphony Orchestra under
Andrew Davis,
Hough delivers a grandly poetic interpretation that allows both sweepingly broad gestures and intricate details, according to the music's dramatically changing character. The orchestra follows suit with a fluid and expansive accompaniment, and
Davis' restrained direction gives
Hough ample freedom to make the expression his own. All would be well with this recording if it weren't for the strange imbalances between the piano and orchestra: dim and recessed one minute, then bold and forward the next. The changes in volume and shifting focus of the sound seem the fault of whimsical mixing, and listeners need to concentrate to hear everything at the softest levels. Even so,
Hough's performance is exceptionally virtuosic, lyrical, and moving, so the minor inconvenience of the variable sound should not prevent anyone's appreciation of this rewarding performance.