Schumann - Piano Sonata n.2, Fantasy, Etudes [Hamelin]

Classical | 1 CD | EAC | APE+CUE, no LOG | Scans + Booklet PDF | 251 MB | RS | TT 75:34
Recorded: Various dates, Henry Wood Hall, London | Released: February 2001 | Label: HYPERION
Marc-André Hamelin (piano)

‘These are among the most poetic readings you will find by anyone. The tone is beautiful, the phrases long and songful, the drama passionate. This disc whets one’s appetite for more mainstream masterpieces from the world’s fastest fingers’ (The Capital Times)

‘For me the outstanding performance is the great C major Fantasie…so beautifully voiced and phrased I can only say that it moved me more deeply than any I have heard for a long time’ (Gramophone)

'A dazzling technician fuses technical dexterity and poetry to compelling effect' (Gramophone)

‘If you want to experience a whirlwind ride, Hamelin is definitely your man. A remarkable tour-de-force’ (The Irish Times)

'Hamelin brings a transcendental technique and passionate romantic temperament to music that, more often than not, is the preserve of pianistic intellectuals and poets. But his performances of the great C major Fantasy and the Symphonic Studies are not merely exercises in virtuosity. His astounding feats of dexterity and dazzling spectrum of colour are constantly put to the service of the music. This is freshly conceived Schumann, light and brilliant in bravura passages - the concluding Allegro brillante of the Etudes rarely sounds so joyous - yet never lightweight in reflective music: the slow third movement of the Fantasy is a poignantly poetic meditation, while the lovely Andantino of the Sonata glows with an entirely appropriate inward emotional intensity. Hamelin's Schumann ideally combines the extrovert and introspective characteristics of this glorious music. Highly recommended.' (The Sunday Times)

'Genuinely outstanding disc' (The Guardian)

'While there’s no shortage of either visceral excitement or poetic exploration, this remains supremely balanced playing … If you’re already a Hamelin aficionado, of course, you won’t need my urging to buy this disc; but if you’ve been wary because of his usually offbeat repertoire, here’s a chance to see what he can contribute to the mainstream. Top recommendation' (Fanfare, USA)

'[Hamelin’s] reading is glorious in its blend of virtuosity and emotional commitment … The recording quality is first-rate. I doubt very much if the current year will produce a finer piano CD’ (Musical Opinion)

Tracklist:

Fantasie in C major, Op 17
1 Movement 1: Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen [12'59]
2 Movement 2: Mässig. Durchaus energisch [7'49]
3 Movement 3: Langsam getragen. Durchaus leise zu halten [11'59]
Piano Sonata No 2 in G minor, Op 22
4 Movement 1: So rasch wie möglich [5'45]
5 Movement 2: Andantino (gretragen) [5'02]
6 Movement 3: Scherzo. Sehr rasch und markiert [1'37]
7 Movement 4: Rondo. Presto [5'19]
Études symphoniques, Op 13
8 Movement 01: Thema. Andante [1'45]
9 Movement 02: Variation 1. Un poco più vivo [1'05]
10 Movement 03: Variation 2 [3'14]
11 Movement 04: Étude 3. Vivace [1'23]
12 Movement 05: Variation 3 [0'58]
13 Movement 06: Variation 4 [1'05]
14 Movement 07: Variation 5 [0'51]
15 Movement 08: Variation 6. Allegro molto [1'04]
16 Movement 09: Variation 7 [2'56]
17 Movement 10: Étude 9. Presto possibile [0'39]
18 Movement 11: Variation 8 [1'13]
19 Movement 12: Variation 9 [2'35]
20 Movement 13: Finale. Allegro brillante [6'16]

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