Hough is up there with the best; may we never take his excellence for granted. ..Hough's detachment - it's a small thing - is also telling in its way, the detail and overview consistently in balance. His virtuosity, polish, control of nuance and a huge range of dynamics are lovely to have.

With his virtuoso technique — which makes flashier pieces sound easy — he makes light work of Grieg’s marching trolls (Op 54/3), initially comical, later more menacing...His poetic eloquence and cantabile playing evoke magic...The entire programme shows Hough in his element: our foremost Romantic pianist.

His performances are wonderfully direct, without a trace of indulgence...With Hough, the music always comes first.