4 Nov 2019

Daybreak Book Corner: Stephen Hough's 'Rough Ideas'

10:04 am on 23 February 2023
Pianist Stephen Hough

Pianist Stephen Hough Photo: Sim Canetty-Clarke

Congratulations to Donald Shand, winner of Stephen Hough's latest book Rough Ideas, Reflections on Music and More.

A memory of when he was thrown out of a concert for 'appalling behaviour', the art of receiving a back-handed compliment gracefully and whether or not you can tell if a pianist is gay. These are all topics candidly covered by pianist Stephen Hough in his latest publication Rough Ideas, Reflections on Music and More which is Daybreak's book of the month for November.

As well as being a world-renowned concert pianist, Stephen Hough is also a painter, a composer and of course, a writer. This multi-talented man was famously named as one of the world's 20 living polymaths by The Economist magazine.

Much of the content of Rough Ideas springs from notes Stephen Hough made during what he calls "dead time on the road" in hotels, airports and on planes. In it, he muses on art, faith, morals and life in a series of short, thought-provoking and often amusing chapters.

Stephen Hough Rough Ideas

Stephen Hough Rough Ideas Photo: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/music/Rough-Ideas-Stephen-Hough-9780571350476

To win a copy of Stephen Hough's Rough Ideas, Reflections on Music and More finish this sentence:

The Economist magazine named Stephen Hough as "One of the world's 20 living p___________"

Email your answer to daybreak@rnz.co.nz and listen to Daybreak with Cynthia Morahan weekday mornings from 6 on RNZ Concert.

Our thanks, as always to Anna Hunt at Marsden Books for her inspired suggestions.

Hear Stephen Hough in conversation with Kim Hill

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