Stephen Hough

Named by The Economist as one of Twenty Living Polymaths, Stephen Hough combines a distinguished career as a pianist with those of composer and writer. He was the first classical performer to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year Honours 2014, and was awarded a Knighthood for Services to Music in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022.

Concerto highlights include engagements with Oslo Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony, Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and Nagoya and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestras. Recent highlights include the successful tour in United Kingdom (UK) with Iceland Symphony Orchestra in completion of his successful residency, and performances with BBC Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Concertgebouworkest, Opéra de Rouen, Philharmonia, Sydney and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, and National Symphony Orchestra in Taiwan. Upcoming recital appearances include the opening of Wigmore Hall’s 2023/24 season, and a recital at the Beijing Music Festival and at the Sala São Paolo, among others.

2024 sees the premiere of Hough’s own piano concerto, The World of Yesterday, with Utah Symphony and the Hallé. The concerto receives its premiere in the United States in January 2024, followed by its UK premiere in May in Bridgewater Hall.

Hough’s extensive discography of around 70 CDs has garnered international awards including the Dia-pason d’Or de l’Année, several Grammy nominations, and eight Gramophone Awards including Record of the Year and the Gold Disc. His award-winning iPad app The Liszt Sonata was released by Touch Press in 2013.