Simon Fearn interviews the world-famous concert pianist Stephen Hough about his passion for painting and the way it interacts with his music-making.
Sir Stephen Hough is a renowned British-Australian pianist, composer, writer, and academic. He began piano lessons at age five, going on to study at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music, later refining his skills at the Juilliard School in New York. In 1983, he won the prestigious Naumburg International Piano Competition, launching his international career. Hough has since performed with leading orchestras worldwide and is celebrated for his interpretations of composers like Rachmaninoff, Saint-Saëns, and Liszt.
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Beyond performance, Stephen Hough is a prolific composer and writer. His compositions include piano concertos, chamber works, and solo pieces, often drawing inspiration from literature and history. Stephen Hough’s literary contributions encompass novels, essays, and reflections on music and spirituality. He is also known for his blogging and has published several books, including the novel The Final Retreat and Rough Ideas.
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Hough’s accolades reflect his multifaceted contributions to the arts. In 2001, he became the first classical performer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2014 and was knighted in 2022 for services to music. Stephen Hough holds positions at the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and the Juilliard School. His recordings, exceeding 60 albums, have garnered numerous awards, solidifying his status as one of the leading figures in classical music today.
Hough’s Rough Ideas: Reflections on Music and More is published on Faber & Faber