The Limelight Recording of the Month for September is Stephen Hough’s Piano Postcards, the latest release from the musically omnivorous British virtuoso. It’s a charmer of an album, where Hough’s own arrangements rub shoulders with classical miniatures from all across the globe.

Alongside Rachmaninov, Granados and Handel, we also get cunning takes on the likes of Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious from Mary Poppins, Remember Me from the Pixar movie Coco and Nature Boy, a song made popular by Nat King Cole who recorded it in 1948.

Clive Paget caught up with Hough to talk childhood treats, musical connections and the fine art of arranging.

Stephen Hough’s Piano Postcards seems a singularly appropriate topic given that you’re in Taiwan.

Well, indeed. I’m on holiday! Sending emails more than postcards, but still. I’ve got a wonderful routine. I spend the morning composing, and then I spend the afternoon just vegetating. Massages, spas, food…

Stephen Hough

Stephen Hough. Photo © Jiyang Chen

So, tell me, what was the idea behind the album?

Well, I’ve made lots of these albums of small encore pieces. In fact, one of the very first I did was The Piano Album, which was back...