Critics and the public alike were unanimous about the excellence of Stephen Hough's 2013 album of Brahms concertos. The year was capped by Hough being named as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year's Honours list. And in 2009, Hough won the Gold Disc Award at the Classic FM Gramophone Awards. His recording of Saint-Saens' complete works for piano and orchestra topped the vote as the best recording of the past 30 years.