In a series of spring concerts, pianist Marc-André Hamelin played recitals in Amsterdam, Berlin, Lucerne, Chicago, and the Klavier-Festival Ruhr. The Canadian master played and recorded Rachmaninoff 3 and Medtner 2 with Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra and returned to Los Angeles (LACO) and Ottawa (NACO) for performances of Mozart K. 453.
“The three Book 2 “Images” of Debussy found Hamelin the subtle colorist, operating in his impressionist element. “Cloches a travers les feuilles” (“Bells Sounding Across the Leaves”) delighted in delicate sprays of arpeggios over finely controlled washes of piano pastels. Both the second piece and “Poissons d’or” (“Goldfish”) were object lessons in applying soft dynamic gradations without any loss of tonal presence.” – John von Rhein, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, May 23, 2016
“…his playing in the (Mozart) Piano Concerto No. 17 was offered like a flute of fine prosecco: witty, scintillating, joyful, lit with a warm golden glow” – Natasha Gauthier, OTTAWA CITIZEN, May 25, 2016
Last month saw the release of his recording of César Franck’s Piano Quintet in F Minor with the Takács Quartet on Hyperion.
Now available on Hyperion and iTunes.
This month, Marc is in Bilbao, Salzburg, Munich and Wigmore Hall before returning to Boston at the end of June to celebrate his marriage to Cathy Fuller! We wish the happy couple all the best!
His summer festivals include stops in Verbier, Lofoton, Germany, Domaine Forget, Aspen, and La Jolla, where he will perform the world premiere of his new work for cello and piano with cellist Hai-Ye Ni.