Photo: Sir Stephen Hough
ATX Chamber Music & Jazz has outdone themselves! The organization is less than three years old and has successfully wooed and wowed Austin’s classical (and jazz) music lovers to broaden their engagement by participating in the experience ATX Chamber creates: one of music + food + drinks + conversation.
A well-appointed, standing-room-only crowd, including some of Austin’s leading arts philanthropists, experienced a mesmerizing evening of chamber music as the illustrious Sir Stephen Hough returned to Austin in collaboration with the dynamic Ensemble ATX.
This extraordinary performance opened with the Texas premiere of Hough’s own String Quartet No. 1, Les Six Rencontres — a six-movement journey through vivid, cinematic soundscapes that transported listeners to France in the 1920s. The movements represented the imaginary sounds of bustling boulevards with violins screeching to a halt, as if a passerby had jumped in front of a carriage. The mellifluous tones of the cello spoke to us like a reading at a private salon gathering, while the wispy branches of the ensemble swayed in unison at one of Paris’ many parks. The polite interaction between the stringed ensemble was reminiscent of a hushed discussion at one of the lavishly appointed hotels. A grand yet tattered theater, with its discordant sounds, snapped as if its ceiling were about to crumble.
Following this, Hough featured Chopin’s (and my) beloved Nocturne, Op. 9 No. 2, and his fiery Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31, allowing audiences to witness Hough’s poetic touch and technical brilliance in a solo setting.
Hough then turned to the Romantic grandeur of Brahms, joining Ensemble ATX for the Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34, a piece of symphonic power and unrelenting passion.
A Little Background on the Artists
Sir Stephen Hough: The Polymath at the Piano
Hailed as one of the world’s great living polymaths by The Economist, Sir Stephen is a rare breed of artist—virtuosic pianist, prolific composer, and acclaimed writer. He was the first classical performer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship; he also received a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) and the knighthood in 2022 for his musical contributions.
A musician of profound intelligence and expressive depth, Hough has performed with every major orchestra across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, from Carnegie Hall to the BBC Proms, where he has appeared nearly 30 times. His vast discography spans over 60 albums, many of which have earned top international honors, including Gramophone’s “Record of the Year” and multiple Grammy nominations.
Beyond the piano, Hough is a published novelist, essayist, and cultural commentator, contributing to The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC Music Magazine. His books—ranging from memoir to philosophical musings on music—offer a glimpse into the mind of an artist whose creativity knows no bounds. He performed a solo concert the night before this engagement, but unfortunately I couldn’t attend :(. The guests I sat next to couldn’t stop raving about it. One of them, a Mr. Brett Bachus, also a pianist/multi-instrumentalist and fan of Sir Stephen’s, couldn’t contain his enthusiasm.
Brett Bachus
Q: You’re also a pianist. What did you think of tonight’s performance by Stephen Hough?
Brett: I absolutely loved it. I’ve followed his career since he won the Naumburg Competition in the early ’80s. One of his albums released in 2007 — My Favorite Things — had this quirky charm.
Q: You mean the same song from The Sound of Music?
Brett: Yes, he playfully arranged it. He even inspired my first attempts at improvisation because of this arrangement, and others.
Q: What is it about his playing that resonates with you?
Brett: It’s the way he shapes time. There’s this sense of breathing in his phrasing. The phrasing reminds me of the grand masters of the 19th century—when they felt the timing rather than just executing it mechanically. Yes, he had the technical skills, but he infused the performance with emotion.
Q: You mean it wasn’t about keeping strict time like a metronome? You had to feel it.
Brett: Yes, exactly.
Q: Any particular pianists from that era you think he evokes?
Brett: Saint-Saëns is one great example. We have recordings and videos of him playing—he composed The Swan from the Carnival of the Animals and Danse Macabre which are likely his most popular pieces still heard regularly today.
He gave his first concert at nine, in the same hall where Chopin gave his final performance. There’s a lineage there, a passing of the torch, in a way. Hough channels that tradition while still sounding entirely his own.
Brett Bachus (Photo Credit: Elise Krentzel)
Paul Huang: The Violin Master
With a tone described as “golden and resonant” (The Strad), violinist Paul Huang is an artist of effortless brilliance. A recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, Huang has dazzled audiences from Bravo! Vail and the Lucerne Festival to Carnegie Hall and the Louvre.
His debut album “Kaleidoscope” (Naïve Records) showcased his remarkable versatility, and his upcoming 2025 release promises yet another compelling chapter in his career. Whether commanding the stage with the BBC Symphony Orchestra or performing intimate chamber works, Huang’s artistry is spellbinding.
Danbi Um: The Graceful Virtuosa
Praised for her “mesmerizing grace” (New York Classical Review), violinist Danbi Um is a force of lyricism and technical prowess. A Menuhin Competition Silver Medalist, she has enchanted audiences at Wigmore Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center, both as a soloist and alongside world-class chamber musicians.
Her debut album, Much Ado: Romantic Violin Masterworks (Avie Records), was a testament to her ability to evoke the soul of a musical Golden Age. With a second album on the horizon and engagements at top international festivals, Um’s star continues to rise.
Eric Wong: Viola! His Viola
Described as having a tone “like toasted caramel” (Musical Toronto), violist Eric Wong brings both warmth and precision to every performance. A dedicated chamber musician, he has been a member of award-winning string quartets and performed at the world’s premier venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Beyond the stage, Wong is a sought-after educator, a faculty member at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, and a frequent guest artist at international festivals. His artistry bridges technical mastery and deep emotional connection, making him a favorite among audiences and students alike.
Clive Greensmith: The Cello Luminary
A cellist of profound depth and artistry, Clive Greensmith has graced the world’s greatest stages as a former member of the legendary Tokyo String Quartet and a founding member of the Montrose Trio. His performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, and Seoul Philharmonic have solidified his place among the most respected musicians of his generation.
A revered educator, Greensmith is a professor at the Colburn School in Los Angeles and has directed prestigious chamber music masterclasses across the globe. His Beethoven recordings with the Tokyo String Quartet remain definitive interpretations, a testament to his lifelong dedication to musical excellence.
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