Marc-André Hamelin Live at Wigmore Hall

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Canadian pianist Marc-André Hamelin is quickly becoming a favorite with piano connoisseurs, particularly in late Romantic music. In this live recital, Hamelin concentrates mainly on unusual arrangements: a Beethoven movement as recomposed by Alkan, a Balakirev reduction of a Chopin concertos movement for solo piano, Busoni's Sonatina which uses themes from Bizet's Carmen. You have to be pretty far involved in the late Romantic ethos to appreciate these obscure tidbits, but if you are, Hamelin's virtuosic and colorful performances will prove extremely attractive. The live performance atmosphere comes across vividly in this recording, as does Hamelin's tone. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

First movement from Piano Concerto No.3
Romanza for Piano Concerto No.1- Romanza; Larghetto
Trois Grandes Etudes, Op.76: Trois Grandes Etudes, Op.76 for the hands separately and reunited- Fantasie in A flat major (left hand)
Trois Grandes Etudes, Op.76: Trois Grandes Etudes, Op.76 - Introduction, Variation and finale in D major (right hand)
Trois Grandes Etudes, Op.76: Trois Grandes Etudes, Op.76 - Moument semblable et perpetuel [Rondo-Toccata in C minor] (hands reunited)
Sonatina No. 6: Sonatina No. 6; Kammer-Fantasie uber Carmen, BV284 , after Bizet
Danza festiva , Op. 38, No.3: Danza festiva , Op. 38, No.3( Forgotten Melodies, Vol.1)

Amazon.com

The Canadian pianist Marc-André Hamelin is quickly becoming a favorite with piano connoisseurs, particularly in late Romantic music. In this live recital, Hamelin concentrates mainly on unusual arrangements: a Beethoven movement as recomposed by Alkan, a Balakirev reduction of a Chopin concertos movement for solo piano, Busoni's Sonatina which uses themes from Bizet's Carmen. You have to be pretty far involved in the late Romantic ethos to appreciate these obscure tidbits, but if you are, Hamelin's virtuosic and colorful performances will prove extremely attractive. The live performance atmosphere comes across vividly in this recording, as does Hamelin's tone. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Dissapointing!.......2007-07-12

I have listened this recital, because of praises which written in this page. Very dissapointing. Actually Hamelin will stand among secondary rank in great pianists ad infinitum. He always shows that he "can play" this instrument. But nothing exciting or meditative or lyric...Just pure, superficial technic. My only favorite Hameline is the third part of the second concerto of Shostakovich. That was not bad. I think he is good as concert performer for one enjoyable night. But I can't believe that he can play Bach or late Beethoven or Brahms, adequately. He can only plays his eccentricities. Ofcourse one should also praise him for his "Alkan or Busoni effort"
You may want to hear just for Alkan's interesting transcription.

Marc-Andre Hamelin Hyperion CD.......2007-04-10

This is a wonderful CD full of out of the way pieces most of us do not know exsist. I loved the Chopin/Balakirev transcription of the Piano Concerto #1. Also try two other Hyperion CD's of Nikoli Kapustin, One played by Hamelin and the other by Steve Osborne. This is jazz in a classical format and it will wow your shirt off.

This is it.......2007-02-26

Hamelin is probably one of the greatest pianists ever, and his courage in championing such unusual and technically demanding material as Godowsky's Études turns him into one of the most interesting musicians today. As for this particular recording, it's needless to say that his playing is superb, as usual, and his technique is unassailable and immaculate. His choice of material is bold, to say the least. He starts off with a wonderful reading of Beethoven's third piano concerto and then goes on to overwhelm the listener with effortless and sublime renditions of works by Chopin, Medtner, Busoni and - oh my! - Alkan. I never thought I would ever come to like Alkan's works, but Hamelin's rendition of the Études are so effective and engaging that I began to take some interest in it. It's by far the best live recording I've ever heard and it certainly helped me redefine my ideas about what's possible for a human being to do on the piano.

this recording is very great.......2007-01-29

This recording was for me entree Marc Andre Hamelin. I think then he must is most amazing of technic since Liszt. No I did ever to hear Liszt, but I am pupil of Kremova, and she tell all pupil word of Mme Ida Nagy "et bene audet" of maestro. Of this recording not only is there all notes (Kremova required us learn Alkan op 76 naught if ever we may dare of playing recital!) but Mr Hamelin his of playing so confident and of "fun" and of warm! This recording is the very great. Did M Hamelin in real there play Alkan Beethoven No 3 cadenza! I would fainted were I present real there Wigmore Hall! Here it is on this recording! I would fainted! Is true.
I say here so will not so wounding, M Hamelin not is good play our Rachmaninov and Scriabin. So will not so harsh be Rachmaninov and Scriabin of his other recording difficult for artist such as M Hamelin are not the technic but the music sensiblite. M Hamelin a youth.
So! A great youth artist! Let he perform now youth accord a his greatness!

Fantastic.......2004-09-18

Hyperion recorded this CD from a series of live recitals given in June 1994, at Wigmore Hall. It is one of my favorite live albums. Hamelin performs Alkan's transcription of Beethoven's 3rd concerto, the Trois Grandes Etudes Op. 76, as well as Medtner, Busoni and a Balakirev transcription of Chopin.

Hamelin's performance of Alkan's Beethoven 3rd is a remarkable feat of the recording age. Most pianists would never even touch the work with it's brilliant 6 minute cadenza that echoes the finale of Beethoven's 5th symphony. To perform it live is quite another matter. It is uncertain whether the great Busoni played the work himself in a recital he gave in Berlin in 1906. Hamelin's is the only recording of Alkan's transcription I'm aware of, but it's probably the only one needed.

Balakirev's transcription of the Romanza of Chopin's first piano concerto is a loyal one. However, this is probably my least favorite track on the album. While pretty and thoughtful, it seems out of place in this energetic collection. Hamelin's interpretation is a bit too clean and cold for my liking. His technique is suitable to play tranquil pieces wonderfully, but here it just doesn't seem to work.

Alkan's Trois Grandes Etudes op 76. are some of the most technically challenging compositions in the entire piano repertoire. In Hamelin, Alkan has a faithful performer that is able to create the effects of a full-scale orchestra on the piano using a mere five fingers. Not only does Hamelin perform this work live, he does so flawlessly. The first is the 'Fantasie' for left hand alone, the second 'Introduction, Variations and Finale' for right hand alone. The final 'Rondo Toccata' is a dizzying piece, reminiscent of the final movement of Chopin's Funeral Sonata. The 30-minute performance of this work leads one to admire both Hamelin's pianism, as well as his physical endurance!

The Carmen Fantasy by Busoni is essentially a whirlwind tour of Bizet with the flair of Busoni. Hamelin could have let loose with this piece, but instead decides to let the work speak for itself. The result is a reflective piece that is filled more with the contrast of emotions than excitement. Hamelin's performance is good, but it would also be great to hear this piece played with more energy.

The final piece on this album is Medtner's Danza festiva No. 3. It's whimsical that brings the album to a joyful close. This time, Hamelin's dynamics are perfect and bring out the color and energy in the piece.

All in all, 'Live at Wigmore Hall' is a remarkable achievement that is well worth adding to your collection. Hyperion has done remarkably well in putting together this album. The sound quality is crystal clear, and the audience's rapturous applause really adds to the enjoyment.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Stomping Ground [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics]

20th Century Piano Works

Albéniz: Cantos de España/ Suite Española

The Artie Shaw Story [Box set]

Almighty Club Experience4 [Import]

A New Tradition Christmas

1er Album (Premier Album) [Original recording remastered] [Import]

A Biography [Original recording remastered]

Zu & Co [Import]

Zebra Crossing

Young & Foolish [Import]

Viviendo Del Pasado

Y Sigue

Together Again

Oldies But Goodies, Vol. 4