From the magazine

A dancing, weightless garland of gems: Stephen Hough’s piano concerto reviewed

Plus: a Makropulos Affair that left me reeling

Richard Bratby
The weirdly engrossing world of this greatest of magical-realist operas: Scottish Opera's production of The Makropulos Affair.  IMAGE: MIHAELA BODLOVIC
EXPLORE THE ISSUE 08 March 2025
issue 08 March 2025

Stephen Hough’s new piano concerto is called The World of Yesterday but its second ever performance offered a dispiriting glimpse into the world of tomorrow. A couple of minutes into the finale Hough stopped playing and the orchestra fell silent. ‘I’m very sorry,’ he explained. ‘My iPad is going crazy.’

GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY 3 MONTHS FOR $5
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Start your 3-month trial today for just $5 and subscribe to more than one view

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in