The Composer Pianists
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Composer: Leopold GodowskyComposer: Marc-Andre Hamelin
Composer: Samuel Feinberg
Composer: Charles-Valentin Alkan
Composer: Ferruccio Busoni
Composer: Sergey Rachmaninov
Composer: Alexander Scriabin
Composer: Nikolay Medtner
Composer: Kaikhosru Sorabji
Performer: Marc-André Hamelin
Edition: Music CD
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 1998-07-14
Music Label: Hyperion UK
Soundtracks:
- Godowsky, Toccata In G flat Major
- Scriabin, Poeme Tragique
- Hamelin, Etude No, 9 D'apres Rossini
- Hamelin, Etude No. 10 D'apres Chopin ('Pour Les Idees Noires')
- Feinberg, Bach Schubler Chorale No. 6 (Transcription)
- Alkan, Andante From Sym. 94 (Transcription) From Esquisses Op 63
- Alkan, No 46: Le Premier Billet Doux
- Alkan, No 47: Scherzetto
- Busoni, Fantasia Nach J S Bach
- Rachmaninov, Moment Musical In E Flat Minor
- Rachmaninov, Etude-Tableau In E flat
- Scriabin, Deux Poemes, Op. 71. No. 1 Fantastique
- Scriabin, Deux Poemes, Op. 71. No. 2 En revant...
- Feinberg, Berceuse
- Medtner, Improvisation No. 1 in B flat minor
- Sorabji, Pastiche On Hindu Merchant Song From Sadko
- Hamelin, Prelude And Fugue
Music reviews of The Composer Pianists
Music Review: Virtuosic and inspired playing - a pianophile's wet dream
Rating: 5 Stars
Most of us think of blistering bravura and gravity-defying virtuosity when we think of Marc-Andre Hamelin. After all, the guy is known for launching himself into the most difficult piano repertoire in the history of piano music (although he has yet to tackle Sorabji's monstrous Opus Clavicembalisticum). In the area of conquering technical demands, Hamelin is simply one of the greats, if not THE great. However, I believe he can often be a superb interpreter, too. Look at Alkan's Souvenirs Trois Morceaux Op. 15, Medtner's sonatas, and even the Schumann Symphonic Etudes. When he is passionate and intelligent with his introspections on the pieces he plays, the addition of his indomitable virtuosity makes him a colossus of a musician.
The numerous 3-star reviews below are rather baffling. I understand that some may dislike his overwhelming focus on technical supremacy. This has been an Achilles heel at times; his Alkan Op. 39, for instance, was a complete disaster and embarrassment because he went for technical perfection instead of full-blooded passion (like Jack Gibbons). On this recording, though, Hamelin fuses both technical superiority and subtle emotional details, producing some truly inspired renditions of these pieces. And the pieces here are really all over the place; most of these were new to my ears. The main highlights here are, in my opinion, the following: Scriabin's Poeme tragique, Haydn-Alkan's Andante from the Surprise Symphony, Busoni's Fantasia on JS Bach, and Medtner's Improvisation No. 1.
I agree with another reviewer here that it's ridiculous for Hamelin to pepper his own compositions, his etudes, throughout the disc, as if they have as much merit as Scriabin or Rachmaninov. However, I actually like Hamelin's etudes. Their dense polyphonic textures and dizzying passagework makes for wonderful musical escapades. His Prelude and Fugue is a tireless dissonant storm of notes, but there is also substance of musical interest as well. But Hamelin shines best in the works of other composers. His rendition of Scriabin's Poem tragique is both spirited and brooding; his ability to make the chordal bass accompaniment echo is quite satisfying. The Alkan transcription of Haydn's Andante from the Surprise Symphony is sheer delight. Alkan's fidelity to the endearing Haydn melody is pleasing, and his daring virtuosic episodes are marvelous.
The most profound work on this recording is Busoni's Fantasia on JS Bach. It's hard to believe this haunting music of extreme pathos is from Busoni's pen; when not ensconced in contrapuntal webs, the music sounds like late Liszt. There are scarcely any moments of fanfare or volatile passagework; instead, this cerebral music gently traverses through some Bach themes and various melancholy digressions. Thus I must restate my confusion regarding some of the other reviewers who lambaste Hamelin's performance. How can one not hear Hamelin's sincere emotional outpouring here? Such a heart-felt, sublime, and discerning execution is priceless.
The other works here are just as notable, but it would be exhausting for both myself and the reader to continue with commentary. Suffice it to say, his Medtner and Rachmaninov are outstanding; the Sorabji piece is peculiarly interesting and the Feinberg Berceuse extremely eerie and mysterious. In short, all of these pieces are pianistic treats. My only problem is the placement of Hamelin's etudes. I don't think his compositions are substantial enough to be placed side-by-side with Scriabin or Sorabji. I think he might have paid a better homage by giving us Henselt, Rubinstein, Lyapunov or Tausig pieces instead.
Bottom line: For pianophiles, this is an impressive powerhouse of a recording. On it, Hamelin showcases some splendid obscurities with a mighty unbeatable virtuosity and yes, even poetic feeling. Every piece here has something memorable or even great about it, so I have to disagree with some of the naysayers about the music's worth. Busoni's Fantasia alone is worth the price of this disc.
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