Marc-Andre Hamelin

[comme_le_vent]

Marc-Andre Hamelin is my favourite pianist for a number of reasons-
1 - technical perfection, which is always used to musical ends
2 - his ability to play the most difficult music ever composed with authority and absolute musicality and clarity
3 - his choice of repertoire, he most often selects unknown/lesser known composers for his recordings, and i have built a level of trust in his taste to discern the wheat from the chaff- i often buy a cd of a composer ive never heard of , and i immediatly buy it because i trust his supreme taste.
4. his interprative style - he always lets the music speak for itself, but also injects it with powerful emotion.
5. the sheer beauty of his sound
6. his love of my favourite piano composer - Alkan
In fact - his favourite alkan work is the same as mine - the symphony for solo piano
7. his live performances - on record he sounds relatively cool and , but on occasion in concert- such as in a live recording i have of him playing the aforementioned alkan work - he plays with a passion that would leave Argerich weeping in jealousy.

what are your opinions on this legendary pianist?

[cziffra]

some of the videos i've seen he came across as looking like a veryt diligent student rather than a master-

until he played un sospiro, that is, which has to be the most breathtakingly orginal performance i've heard

[comme_le_vent]

believe me - he is a master - ive got lots of cds, videos - ive never hseen or heard a pianist so perfectly in control of every aspect of playing.

also, has anyone, besides me, met him?

[thracozaag]

believe me - he is a master - ive got lots of cds, videos - ive never hseen or heard a pianist so perfectly in control of every aspect of playing.

also, has anyone, besides me, met him?

 Yes, he's a SUPER nice guy.

[eddie92099]

he plays with a passion that would leave Argerich weeping in jealousy

He is fantastic, but I wouldn't go that far,
Ed

[BET23]

he is god...

[steinwaymodeld]

I love HAMELIN!!!

actually it has to start from my love towards Cziffra, as Cziffra was the technical perfection and stunning technique in his own time.

Then i came across with Hamelin as someone told me he is the GOD of all technique. I didn't believe him, and i listened to Hamelin and his videos, after seeing his Alkan Concerto for piano solo video, i actually stood up in front of my computer and clapped my hands for like half a minute. I couldn't believe any human being can play such crazy piece so perfectly.

And as more i know him, more i respect and admire him.
He composes himself which is extremely rare even for most case of the greatest pianist(except Horowitz and Cziffra). He composes so much works which are all amazing(should listen to his own transcription of the Rossini La Danze, or even better, get the video, it's very very very very very beautiful piece, i think it's better than Busoni's transcription)

As Comme said, his chocie of repertoire is stunning too, everytime i saw him play some unknown pieces, as i don't even know who the composers are, but it always suprised me how much he knows about piano literature. ANd he doesn't play all the conservatory warhorses and being proud of himself, he always challenged himself as composeing or make transcription so that it will be more difficult. He is the GOD of all techniuqes, no exaggeration here, his technique is perfect, I doubt even liszt can out-play him. (THere is no way to know though).

I admire him, he does his own music and try to share his perspective to the world, he is the best pianist as well as the best musician out there now.

I wish he can keep giving us all the good music.

[banana_split]

Although I've heard quite a bit about him, I've yet to get to know his music. Any recommendations on his recordings? Thank you.

[eddie92099]

The Alkan disc with the Grande Sonata on Hyperion is a must have,
Ed

[jeff]

does anyone know of any places on the internet that have video footage of hamelin playing?

[comme_le_vent]

i'd recommend all of his alkan cds, and the godowsky studies. but the highest recommendation i have for newcomers are his 'kaleidoscope' and 'composer-pianists' cds  -  which contain some of the most amazing encore type pieces ever composed, from piano-salon style elegance in the bentz-woods valse phantastique, to insanely virtuosic etudes by marc-andre himself - these are AWESOME!

[steinwaymodeld]

i'd recommend all of his alkan cds, and the godowsky studies. but the highest recommendation i have for newcomers are his 'kaleidoscope' and 'composer-pianists' cds  -  which contain some of the most amazing encore type pieces ever composed, from piano-salon style elegance in the bentz-woods valse phantastique, to insanely virtuosic etudes by marc-andre himself - these are AWESOME!

I love his own transcription of the La Campanella

I have some of his score, and there is one with his own transcription of the Bumble bee, Comment_Le_Vent, do you by chance have his recording of playing it?

By the way
have you seen his Supervirtuoso Documentary?

It's a must have video!!!
He played so many things, like ALL the Black Key Godowsky chopin etudes(all7), Rachmaninoff Sonata No.2 MOvement 3, a little bit of his Triple Etudes, Alkan Concerto OP.39 NO.10, Alkan Grande Sonata Age 20,30,40. SOme Mehler, like 10 Variaions of the Rzewski People United will never be defeated.

And if you have, i have a question.

[comme_le_vent]

he hasnt recorded the bumblebee as far as i know.
and i havent seen that documentary  
i do know a place where i can download hamelin videos  - including that documentary, but the files are virtually impossible to download on my connection  
but as always - nice to hear theres another hamelin fan out there  

by the way thrac, what did you do when you met him, what did you talk about or ask?

[thracozaag]

he hasnt recorded the bumblebee as far as i know.
and i havent seen that documentary  
i do know a place where i can download hamelin videos  - including that documentary, but the files are virtually impossible to download on my connection  
but as always - nice to hear theres another hamelin fan out there  

by the way thrac, what did you do when you met him, what did you talk about or ask?

 He played the 1st Scriabin sonata at a Scriabin society concert here in nyc.  He actually made a couple of mistakes in the performance (made a mess of the opening), so it's nice to see that he's still human. (It was an amazing performance anyway).  Afterwards we discussed the perils of performing Scriabin, especially Sonatas 7 and 8, and his love of Medtner--I think he was in the process of learning all the sonatas at the time.  REALLY nice guy, down to earth.

[comme_le_vent]

yeah, he was totally down to earth with me and a really nice guy. but my questions were concerning alkan - naturally.

[steinwaymodeld]

Hamelin had hold a concert in Hong Kong with Hong Kong Philimophic Orchestra on Feb 4th (like, today)

Playing Rachmaninoff Concerto No.3 and Rhapsody in Variation of Paganini

My friends (more than 1) told me Hamelin made some minor mistake in the performance. And the Rach3, he didn't communicate enough with the orchestra. So result in inconsistent of the whole performance, overall it's not very good. Sometimes Hamelin is too fast while the Orchestra can't catch up, sometimes the Orchestra is too loud, one can't hear the piano.


He will play a recital tommoraw(some of my friend who attened the Rach3 will go too)

Here is the programme:

Bach-Busoni  
Chaconne from Partita No 2 in D minor for solo violin, BWV 1004

Schubert-Liszt
Trauermarsch - Grande Marche funèbre(from Märsche für das Pianoforte übertragen, S 426)

Liszt
Fantasia and Fugue on the theme B-A-C-H, S 529

Scriabin
Sonata No 7, Op 64 Messe Blanche

Godowsky
Seven Studies from The Complete Studies on Chopin's Études

By the way

my friend got his Autograph:

P.P.S
there is a Post-Show, my friend can actually meet Hamelin
Damn it. those luck bastards.....

[stevie]

hmmmm

it seems he is finally getting some respect for his msuciality

[ryguillian]

I met Hamelin a couple of months ago after a concert. I asked him if he planned on making another Sorabji recording and he looked at me as if I were insane. He explained that performing Sorabji's music is extremely time consuming and that he's too old; he closed by saying "I'll leave it to the others." I enjoy his playing and he dresses interestingly.

—Ryan

[stevie]

how does he dress?

he is a legend

[orlandopiano]

Hamelin's mistakes don't bother me. I've heard enough of him to conclude he has the greatest technique of any living pianist.

[ryguillian]

[H]ow does he dress?

A couple months ago in concert he was dressed all in black (no jacket or tie) and was wearing alligator skin shoes.

—Ryan

[g_s_223]

I highly respect his phenomenal ability, and particularly admire the way he has revived lesser-known composers. However, I sometimes feel he is missing some spark or fire in his playing, a sense of edge or risk. Anyway, I'm glad we have him amongst us.

[tolkien]

Although I've heard quite a bit about him, I've yet to get to know his music. Any recommendations on his recordings? Thank you.

For starters, his Alkan and Medtner discs. Great virtuosity AND substantial music.

[superstition2]

I think Hamelin's Scriabin sonatas set is disappointing from an interpretive standpoint. But, I really like his Roslavets disc.

[steinwaymodeld]

I think Hamelin's Scriabin sonatas set is disappointing from an interpretive standpoint. But, I really like his Roslavets disc.

hamelin claimed that is the musically hardest thing he ever recorded/performed.

and this topic is so old it's not even funny

[kreso]

I am also a big fan of Hamelin I like him because of his very special and interesting repertoire ( first time I listen him was in Godowsky-Chopin Studies and it was realy big thing for me to listen those most difficult pieces in such amazing performance ). The only thing I don't like so much is his tone, wich I found not so beatiffuly rich in some cases (like a Gilels for example). But I hope that he'll play some more  deepest music-it will be interesting to see his way of playing Bach...

[stevie]

i have to say his tone is among the most pretty ive heard, i use the word pretty instead of beautiful, because although it is quite beautiful, his tonal range is a bit restrained, and to be truly beautiful you have to embrace both the pretty and the ugly...

[zheer]

I is find is piano piano is boring.

[mikey6]

I heard that his playing of standard repertoire isn't the greatest.  he's visiting here next year palying Brahms 2 and i'm debating whether i'm gonna like it after hearing that.
however, agreed, his playing of 'rare' repertoire is rather good.

[stevie]

I heard that his playing of standard repertoire isn't the greatest.  he's visiting here next year palying Brahms 2 and i'm debating whether i'm gonna like it after hearing that.
however, agreed, his playing of 'rare' repertoire is rather good.

mass debate

[brewtality]

I heard that his playing of standard repertoire isn't the greatest.  he's visiting here next year palying Brahms 2 and i'm debating whether i'm gonna like it after hearing that.
however, agreed, his playing of 'rare' repertoire is rather good.

You should definitely go! I wish I could even get the chance to hear him in concert. Btw you shouldn't rely on other people's opinions, rather listen to his standard repetoire discs for yourself.

[tompilk]

HE IS A    L E G E N D ! ! ! He has so many free videos on the web.. and his technique is immaculate and perfection if I ever saw it... makes me want to cry... my favourite pianist .... even beats Argerich and Volodos...

[jamie_liszt]

AHHHHH HAMELIN OWNS, His technique is perfect, his videos are great, and its great how he plays lesser known composers, wish i could see him live in concert

[pita bread]

I have tickets to his Shostakovich Piano Concerti #1 & 2 performance in March.

[stevie]

I have tickets to his Shostakovich Piano Concerti #1 & 2 performance in March.

yhahahahaha, tell us how it goes, in february

[elephant]

Videos? I want!

Ahem. Do anyone know where I can find some? I´ve only seen the HR2.

[will]

https://gamingforce.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76045

Hamelin super-virtuoso video (About 1 hr long) plus other stuff is there.

HR2? Where from?

[elephant]

thx.