Marc-André Hamelin Plays Haydn
A Pianist from Montreal Performs Classical Sonatas with Playful Fun
Aug 27, 2009
Pianist Marc-André Hamelin has yet to turn 50, but has already released more recordings than there are candles on his birthday cake. And when one listens to his sensitive touch, a color wheel of shifting tones, it's no wonder that audiences keep asking for more.
Marc-André Hamelin: Performer, Composer, Listener of the Obscure
As a performer, he champions the more obscure late 19th century and early 20th century composers such as Leo Ornstein, Nikolai Roslavets, Georgy Catoire, Leopold Godowsky, Charles-Valentin Alkan or Charles Ives. As a composer, he dabbles in dreamy sound washes. As a listener, he is apt to unearth some forgotten LP (such as 1950s French pop songs for solo piano), transcribe a three-minute gem and incorporate it later into concerts as an encore.
Yet his latest recording, a double disc set of Haydn's Piano Sonatas released in August 2009, demonstrates that Hamelin is just at home in the 18th century as he is with his own 21st century compositions.
Haydn's Piano Sonatas: Musical Fun Performed by Hamelin
The classical era is often criticized (or praised, depending on the critic's own preferences) for being too rigorously concerned with form and natural logic. But as any serious listener of Mozart and Haydn knows, these classical composers were often subversive pranksters.
And in Hamelin's hands, Haydn's light-hearted sense of humor shines forth. Dancing andantes, pompous adagios, hiccupping grace notes and crystal trills conjure up images of the decidedly luxurious upper class from whom Haydn earned his bread and butter. Yet Haydn (and Hamelin, in his interpretation of the classical composer) never forgot that he was, after all, writing an art form. The music itself remains--through all the fun and games--simply delightful music, the aural equivalent of a crisp September apple.
Though Hamelin only begins to scratch the surface of Franz Haydn's piano sonata repertoire (Haydn wrote 62 piano sonatas in all), this album is a must hear introduction. Like most of Hamelin's recordings, the Haydn sonatas are recorded with Hyperion, a British classical label.
A Pianist Who Is a Montreal Native, Boston Resident
A Montreal native, Hamelin was born in 1961. Like most concert pianists, he started lessons on the piano at the age of 5 and by 9 was already winning the top prize in a music competition. He went on to study at the Ecole Vincent d'Indy in Montréal Yvonne Hubert and Sister Rita de la Croix, and later at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Harvey D. Wedeen and Russell Sherman. When not on performance tours (the 2009-10 season includes dates across America and Europe), he currently resides in Boston.
Sources
Child, Fred. "Marc Andre Hamelin: The Praiseworthy Pianist." August 20, 2009. NPR Music.
Marc-André Hamelin (Piano) Biography.
Marc-André Hamelin Artist Biography.
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