Stephen Hough has already proven his virtuoso credentials elsewhere, so he doesn't need to worry about his reputation for technique with this Franz Liszt collection. And his playing of the Ballade No. 2--deeply serious Liszt, and bristling with technical challenges--is enough to dazzle any listener. So when Hough doesn't dazzle as much in other challenging music, like the Polonaise No. 2 and, above all, the Sonata, we can presume that he is making interpretive decisions instead of ducking hazards he can't overcome. Hough's interpretation of the Sonata does pay some musical dividends. He takes the music very seriously and aims for expression at every moment. Still, there are climaxes in the Sonata, and in the Polonaise No. 2, that simply don't come off with sufficient force. Hough's choices, while they may be honorable, diminish the contrast between fury and philosophy that can be heard more fully in Liszt performances by Martha Argerich and Sviatoslav Richter. --Leslie Gerber
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