Archives for November 29, 2019

Stephen Hough plays Chopin’s E Flat Nocturne, Op. 9/2, on Queen Victoria’s golden Erard piano at the 2019 BBC Proms. This performance, which took place in London’s Royal Albert Hall, was the first time that the piano had ever been heard outside Buckingham Palace:

(This is the latest in a series of arts- and history-related videos that appear in this space each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)

“Once a year, at the dark end of November, Thanksgiving Day arrives in the United States. It’s one of those marvellous reminders of the good sort of innocence and naivety you can find in that country—like the unembarrassed willingness of audiences to cry at beautiful music, or to stand up and cheer after a performance.”

Stephen Hough, Rough Ideas: Reflections on Music and More