Marc Andre Hamelin in Mexico performing Brahms 2nd concerto

[presto agitato]

The best pianist of the world will be playing the most difficult concerto. November 21th. OFUNAM

See you there

[mike_lang]

The best pianist of the world will be playing the most difficult concerto. November 21th. OFUNAM

See you there

(Makes Keanu Reeves-style beckoning motion to New Complexity School disciples.)

[mephisto]

Extremely off topic, but I disagree with your signature quote. I think it is terrible.

[retrouvailles]

Extremely off topic, but I disagree with your signature quote. I think it is terrible.

Well, look who said it.

[m]

Extremely off topic, but I disagree with your signature quote. I think it is terrible.

Well, way before getting to the signature stuff, I'd respectfully disagree with two statements in the very first sentence, i.e. "The best pianist of the world", and "The most difficult Concerto".
I would however gladly pay for the ticket to go to the concert if Mr. Hamelin was playing in the area.

[mephisto]

Well, way before getting to the signature stuff, I'd respectfully disagree with two statements in the very first sentence, i.e. "The best pianist of the world", and "The most difficult Concerto".
I would however gladly pay for the ticket to go to the concert if Mr. Hamelin was playing in the area.

Agreed on all points. Although Hamelin is certainly one of the best imo.

[amelialw]

are you sure??? He is'nt the best pianist in the world...I watched him perform Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto "Emperor" and it did'nt amaze me.

I really feel that Stephen Hough is a better pianist. I watched him perform Brahms Concerto No.2 last year and it was amazing

[leonidas]

did'nt amaze me.

Extremely off topic, but I disagree with your signature quote. I think it is terrible.

It's probably one of the most agreeable things Brendel has even been quoted as saying.
You see, much like the great masterpieces he speaks of, it is open to widely differing interpretations. 

[mephisto]

Actually I wasn't refering to the Brendel quote...

[counterpoint]

Actually I wasn't refering to the Brendel quote...

The Brendel statement is wonderful, but I completely do not understand the Hamelin hysteria. Hamelin will be playing Brahms? Why?

[leonidas]

Why?

Good question.

No wait...bad question.

[franzliszt2]

1st of all he is not the best pianist. How can anyone be the best? Hamelins Bach wouldn't be a patch on Perahia's,  and Perahia's Alkan not a patch on Hamelin.

Brahms 2 is not the most difficult piece in the world. Well maybe it is, I dunno, thats a huge debate. Everybody cheats at it. I still havn't heard anyone play that piece well. I would love to see Hamelin play it. Although I am not a big fan of Hamelin, I will always buy his cd's or go see him becasue I have massive respect for the guy.

[franzliszt2]

I also feel very strongly that Hamelin is so misunderstood. As is Godowsky, Busoni etc... by amateurs anyway.

It's nit fair, the way people talk about these composer-pianists.

[leonidas]

1st of all he is not the best pianist. How can anyone be the best?

There is some truth in that, however the concencus that he is the 'best' pianist has little to do with artistic merit.

It is more to do with the purely objective and non-artistic elements, the sheer cognitive capability of his musical/pianistic brain and the capacity of his technique and mechanism.

In these regards, it is still difficult to calculate a 'number one', but there is no doubt Hamelin is really up there with the best ever, and possibly the most iconic current example.

[retrouvailles]

1st of all he is not the best pianist. How can anyone be the best? Hamelins Bach wouldn't be a patch on Perahia's,  and Perahia's Alkan not a patch on Hamelin.

Hamelin's Bach is actually very good (I'm not talking about his Bach-Busoni). If he played more Bach, I would say that he could give Perahia a run for his money (I don't really like Perahia's Bach much anyways. I don't even like Perahia in general). Now, I doubt very much that Perahia could play Alkan like Hamelin plays Bach. I digress, but my point is made.

[iumonito]

Everybody cheats at it. I still havn't heard anyone play that piece well.

Gilels, Arrau, Richter, just for starters.

I have read Brahms 2 and easy it is not.  Technique for the Brahms Paganini and the musicianship for Mozart 491 are required, and more.

On the other hand, many a pianist plays this, which can't be said of other very challenging works, like Bartok 2.

I am a Hamelin fan, but it sounds to me he has an emotional block with the main literature of the instrument.  I like his Kapustin much better than his Haydn, even though I like Haydn better than Kapustin.

[retrouvailles]

I am a Hamelin fan, but it sounds to me he has an emotional block with the main literature of the instrument.  I like his Kapustin much better than his Haydn, even though I like Haydn better than Kapustin.

Hamelin actually plays a lot of standard repertoire (very well), but he has recorded very little of it. I have had the pleasure of hearing him play standard repertoire, both in person and with bootlegged recordings (which I have many of). He does not have an emotional block, but he feels that obscure repertoire needs to be recorded more. And, for the record, I think his Haydn is fantastic. As far as standard rep goes, it's only his Schumann that I am not really that satisfied with.

[m]

to me he has an emotional block with the main literature of the instrument. 

I don't think it is a matter of emotional block with repertoire, but it is rather emotional detachement from what he is playing.
I believe, he is very smart man, with great analytical mind, who made his career playing all that obscure stuff. In standart repertoire he is quite uninteresting (at least to me).

Although he is definitely "on top there" I find for example G. Sokolov is much superior pianist, both technically and musically.

[franzliszt2]

There is some truth in that, however the concencus that he is the 'best' pianist has little to do with artistic merit.

It is more to do with the purely objective and non-artistic elements, the sheer cognitive capability of his musical/pianistic brain and the capacity of his technique and mechanism.

In these regards, it is still difficult to calculate a 'number one', but there is no doubt Hamelin is really up there with the best ever, and possibly the most iconic current example.

Thats like saying Turner is the best artist becasue he can draw the straightest lines 

[retrouvailles]

Thats like saying Turner is the best artist becasue he can draw the straightest lines 

No.

[ahinton]

Thats like saying Turner is the best artist becasue he can draw the straightest lines 

Whereas there are other more pertinent reasons to decribe him as such, you mean?! No, of course I know that you didn't mean that although, having seen some of his very early work at both the Museum of British Art at Yale and the exhibition at London's RA which marked the 150th anniversary of Turner's death, the fact that he could indeed "draw the straightest lines" was perhaps more amply apparent that might be immediately obvious from contemplating, for example, his more mature watercolours; whilst for the most part these youthful works reveal little of the sheer genius of his later flowering, their brilliance of draughtsmanship and general technical acccomplishment is undeniable.

That said, I have little doubt that Marc-André would offer no objection whatsoever to being compared to Turner, even if only in this way!...

Best,

Alistair

[leonidas]

Thats like saying Turner is the best artist becasue he can draw the straightest lines 

Read before replying.

Divorcing a pianist's achievments from the artistic when being analytical seems to be difficult for some.

[franzliszt2]

Read before replying.

Divorcing a pianist's achievments from the artistic when being analytical seems to be difficult for some.

Piano is an art. Nothing else. Take up running instead and rid the world of your stupidity. Hamelin would be disgusted at you. His virtuosity is based around achieving a musical effect.

[leonidas]

I urge you to take some pills and take an axe to your hands, for you are not worthy of having them.

[iumonito]

That's it, you are banned.  I will never read anything you post again, Leo.  Try to be nice to others.  Ciao.

[leonidas]

The beast resides in me..

[ahinton]

The beast resides in me..

You could always evict it; in the meantime, however, one might hope that it's paying sufficient rent to justify its existence there...

Best,

Alistair

[counterpoint]

The beast resides in me..

You could always evict it; in the meantime, however, one might hope that it's paying sufficient rent to justify its existence there...

Every real artists needs such a "beast" as a source of power. But these animals can be quite dangerous and harmful at times. So take care and control of your beast!

[pita bread]

Piano is an art. Nothing else. Take up running instead and rid the world of your stupidity. Hamelin would be disgusted at you. His virtuosity is based around achieving a musical effect.

My dear FL, what's the point of arguing with a dogmatic idiot? His ideas will remain moronic and steadfast all the same.