For renowned pianist and composer Sir Stephen Hough, New York holds a unique significance throughout his life. At the age of 19, he relocated there to pursue his studies at the prestigious Juilliard School. Having been raised in Warrington and previously attending the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, moving to New York served as a transformative experience for him. “New York was my awakening,” he recalls, expressing his deep affection for the city. He resided there, even purchasing an apartment, establishing it as his primary residence for many years until the onset of Covid-19 prompted his return to London.
When the BBC invited him to contribute to Radio 3’s groundbreaking series, it didn’t take him long to decide on his topic: September 11th, the day New York, and essentially the whole world, underwent a transformative shift.
25 for 25: Centennial Sounds showcases 24 musicians in addition to Hough, each tasked with composing pieces that echo historical events, influential figures, or groundbreaking advancements that defined the initial 25 years of the 21st century.
However, Hough crafted a unique composition titled “September 10th 2001,” which is a nocturne, but unlike the usual serene connotations, this one carries a deeper meaning. Instead of tranquility, it suggests something more profound. As he puts it, “I aimed to encapsulate a sense of innocence, yet there’s an undertone, a hint of foreboding.
The five-minute piece concludes with the pianist’s two hands playing in two distinct keys, creating an effect that reminds one of the start but also implies a change.
On the evening of September 10th, he spent time with his friends, composers John Corigliano and Mark Adamo, as they all watched a video of Adamo’s opera adaptation of Louisa M. Alcott’s Little Women. This occasion was another example of innocence masking a deeper current – in this case, the American Civil War.
Following that late-night episode in Manhattan, he received an early morning call from a friend the next day, who filled him in on the events. To this day, he’s never seen footage of the Twin Towers collapsing, yet his recollection of that fateful day remains clear as day.
As I reminisce, I recall harkening back to radio broadcasts, dialing my mother to assure her of my safety, hastily venturing out to a grocery store where the food supplies were swiftly depleting. The scent of smoke, originating from the towers, drifted northwards towards my apartment on 100th Street, and I found solace at the nearby Franciscan church, attending Mass.
His religious affiliation was that of a converted Roman Catholic, which established a personal bond with the tragic event. Among those who perished was Father Mychal Judge, a Franciscan friar serving as chaplain for the New York City Fire Department, who lost his life in the North Tower while providing aid to the injured. Hough had previously sought spiritual guidance from Father Mychal at his church, recalling his advice: “He emphasized that we should recognize God’s mercy in our frailties and have faith in Him.
At present, Hough is in the United States for a tour, showcasing some of his own compositions. Meanwhile, Radio 3 will feature his Nocturne performed by Elisabeth Brauss, a former New Generation Artist. In 2022, he was knighted and holds a distinguished position within the classical music world. However, he remains enthusiastic about discovering fresh talent like Brauss in the music industry.
He finds great joy in the transformation that has taken place in modern classical music. “It’s so refreshing. In the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, people expected a contemporary piece to be extremely displeasing, loud and they wouldn’t like it. To get into a music school or get recorded or commissioned by the BBC in the late ’70s, you had to write atonal music. My nocturne would have been discarded.
In a more varied world today, this individual noted, “You don’t always have to be solemn.” This person charmed the 2024 Last Night of the Proms audience with his lighthearted interpretation of Mary Poppins’ Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious as a playful fantasia. “Music is versatile, and Radio 3 plays a vital role in that diversity,” he added, emphasizing its continued significance as a prominent stage for music.
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2025-02-04 03:51