Hamelin plays Alkan - Concerto for Solo piano Movt. 3

[Rachmaninoffkid]

@MasterAzunai This isn’t fast, this is Hamelin-ized.

[MasterAzunai]

This is YouTube, so one must expect the trolls to come along criticizing anyone who plays difficult pieces fast, even though this is extremely musical (not that that's even the real intention here).

[vyumishin]

great sportsman, awful musician! GYM rules

[ryguillian]

@vyumishin This music is inherently clamorous; Hamelin plays it perfectly. You have no idea what you’re talking about.

[derekoppen]

So he plays fast. So what. Always mezzo forte.

[twooffour]

@derekoppen

Bad quality, you fool.

[TripleRhu]

he looks like a magician

[exelpaperclip123]

Hamelin is a god!

[forgottenbooks]

Holy... how can anyone do a glissando on the black notes??

[TripleRhu]

@forgottenbooks ...me?

[kylelandry]

@forgottenbooks It's pretty easy lol...

[afertyus1000]

@kylelandry yea now try playing it on a casio

[twooffour]

@classicalmusic29

Well yea, that's kinda what helps you remember words, as well ;)

[twooffour]

@classicalmusic29

So how about physical memory of your mouth, then? *rolleyes*

[twooffour]

@classicalmusic29

Exactly. Physical memory, photographic memory, and sensory memory, and information memory, and any combinations thereof, are constantly used in memorizing just about anything.

And not just with "this piece". But ANY piece. And not just "probably".

[dtscott13]

This is absolute craziness. Brilliant!

[12345qazx1]

Alkan and Hamelin go well together..

[hjiuhfhrehui]

i would pay a lot of money to see him preform this live !

[dcozy]

I heard Hamelin play this in Tokyo. My first thought when the piece began was: he started too fast. He'll never be able to keep this up.

He did, brilliantly.

[pianoman1189]

2:48 - Retrogression!

[justchilln2]

Alkan was AMAZING!!!!

[pearsewl]

@shechaiyah: Please define music; then would you please define an "imitation" of music?

[guitarplayer245]

2:00 to 2:30 is the coolest piano stuff ive heard in awhile

[Frozentoes1]

Please explain.

[vincentws03]

and there was me thinking stupidly that Liszt's pieces were hard to play

[OrangeSodaKing]

@vincentws03 Well actually, look at Alkan's metronome marking. This is faster than that. ;) But Hamelin's studio recording (which is also faster) is really good!

[ultracoolhomies]

Liszt's pieces are hard to play... but Alkan's are harder. lol

[minasgekos]

@shechaiyah You're wrong... just because it hasn't the quality of a Mozart concerto it doesn't makes it an ''imitation'' of music....

[ddsoco]

He's good.

[mauriciostarosta]

I think Hamelin is the reencarnation of Franz Liszt, hehe.

[pookiehohn]

More likely Alkan.

[Ellinidara]

I think if you'll listen Enrico Pace,V.Lisitsa,M.Argerich, Arrau,Kissin and others,,,, playing Liszt's repertory you'll change opinion:-)

[Frozentoes1]

Mediocre music is still mediocre music, notwithstanding performances by the greats you have herein listed.

[TwelfthRoot2]

If Hamelin was above both Liszt and Alkan, I would not be surprised.

[Rlaw2222]

amazing thing is that he plays it faster here than in the studio recording, yet still frighteningly accurate

[Cobrien51987]

looks like he is infact a robot! look at the join between his head and his neck... certainly not human! ; )

[franzleone]

li mortacci sua che animale!!extraordinary musician

[talonboy5432]

Hamelin seems to be enjoying this.

[iAirtom]

Better than Chuck Norris on steriods.

[keenboy1310]

You lie

[frederickletterblair]

Some one told me pianists are like Gods. I belive him now.

[fdaltrey]

Is it just me or he looks a bit uncomfortable playing this piece? By '97 he was in control.

[anonymousQ45]

i dont think you can be considered as one of the greats until you can play alkan symphonies and etudes

[anonymousQ45]

i dont like comparing jack gibbons and hamelin. theyre both great and they are their own men so one is not better its just unique

[0KissMeOrDie0]

holy cow. 10 minutes of those playing. O.O

if it was me my fingers are numb already.

i cant even press the key that fast!

holy cow. just holy cow...

[demosj]

And that's just the final movement. My hand would have gone sour before making it though the first. :s

[OrangeSodaKing]

What I would do to see him perform this live...

[terryregnar]

Oh My GOD!!!

[anonymousQ45]

2:35

[MajesticFerret]

I think Alkan pieces are more about the showcasing of artistic handmovements than some of the actual music.

Alkan loses a lot of his appeal if you're not watching the person playing.

This has probably been said before and I hate to point out the obvious, but this piece looks monsterously hard. >_>

[talonboy5432]

Well...I don't think so.

True the sight is more of a "bonus".But if you want to see loads of hand movements check Liszt out...He's probably more of a showcase composer.

[thunder1909]

Take a listen to the Jack Gibbons play Alkan (especially his Concerto). He is perhaps the only pianist able to bring out Alkan's intentions so well within the music. You must remember that Alkan's music is insanely hard to play, and it takes years for even an experinced pianist to be able to play the 'music' and go past the excrutiating and painful technical diffculties. Hamelin plays Alkan well, although I don't think his best interpretation is of this Concerto.

[123eldest]

the part which starts at 2:35 shows crossed hands in the score but how should i play it?

[Maroonmug59]

The way Hamelin plays it, where the notes are sort of spread evenly between the two hands, is easier. However, the way Gibbons plays it with hands crossed, was Alkan's original intention, and is ridiculously difficult. Not that either of them are easy.

[123eldest]

ok thanks, yeh crossing the hands is a bit harder.

[jpbracey]

Hamelin is a great pianist - his style is perfect and his chops from the devil!!!

Bravo - not topping this - jpb

[cziffra11]

I keep coming back in my mind to Lenny Bernstein's statement about the "inevitability" of Beethoven's masterpieces. That is, you simply can't imagine any other way they could go. This might be a yardstick for judging how one ranks the great composers. Can you imagine another way for Alkan's music to go? I can. But I can't with Schubert, or Chopin, or Mozart...and certainly not Bach. But it's all subjective, isn't it? And aren't we lucky enough to have ears??? We're awash in greatness.

[brianCIM]

and lucky enough to have an open forum to discuss all the wonderful things we hear. youtube is a great thing, is it not. your point is well taken and i remember hearing that bernstein quote and it is a good one. Best Wishes, brian

[cziffra11]

Alkan's musical ideas -- the major themes, if you will -- are almost always second-rate an contrived when compared to Chopin or even Schumann. Hey that's okay. We can't all be Chopin. But his ability to develop these themes, pit one against another, put them all at a high rolling boil is truly impressive. Honestly, is there anything in this piece that has anything at all on a level with something as mind-boggling as the simple opening of the Chopin Second Ballade? My humble opinion only.

[davealkan]

I completely agree. It's the nature of the way he develops the themes- almost obsessively. Nothing is left out, he explores and exhausts all he possibilities. I think musically this is fascinating. Some people find this a 'process', and think it's boring, but for me, he always uses some clever structural means to keep the interest.

[Lukecash12]

I don't think so at all, he just displays very strong themes. The only time i remember him exhausting every possibility was in Le Festin De Esope, and that was a set of variations that was still absolutely gorgeous in spite the restrictions he put on himself(there has been a popular method of composing for about 200 years where you purposefully restrict yourself). Have you heard his Super Flumina Babylonis? If you haven't, then tell me what you think of it after listening...

[KeithWhalen11]

Cziffra11 and davealkan, you guys make great points. I wouldn't pit one against another in terms of composition either though, Chopin is himself, as is Alkan. I've spent many years fascinated and moved by both of their works, they have occasional similarities but their stark contrast in many areas make for an interesting debate about them personally and about the era of music to which they belong.

[brianCIM]

in some ways you are right. he doesn't have the same consistency melodic speaking as chopin, liszt or schumann. personally i think the second mvt of this piece is melodically breath-taking. there are some gorgeous moments in all three movements though, like the 'hymn-like' section of this movement and the secodary theme of the first movement. hell, the melody at 0:28 kicks ass and is so alkan. i also like the hebraic element in his melodies which could only be created by him.

[brianCIM]

when we compare alkan to chopin i feel a similar comparison to beethoven and schubert. like beethoven(i am not saying he is as good beethoven) its not the melody its what he does with the melody. the first mvt has to be one of the greatest examples of musical architecture in history. his imagination is absolutely prodigious.

[anonymousQ45]

your a jackass. alkan is recognized for composing difficult pieces. if yu wanna hear a catchy tune why dont you listen to michael jackson or elvis or something. difficulty is the key. chopin and schumann(schumann more than chopin) were more lyrical composers who focused on the emotional aspect of the music rather than full blown virtuosity. thats where liszt and alkan come in.

[Hopfensperger]

I don't think that composing lyrical music makes Chopin or Schumann more emotionally involving than Alkan.

[callenishss]

no i think alkan speaks deeper, there is a subtle edge to it, especially the preludes that seem to reflect exactly the soury tanginess of certain human emotions

[sinancans]

@Hopfensperger

chopin is the best of all. including beethoven, mozart and bach

[hjiuhfhrehui]

@sinancans

alkan kicks ass :P

[callenishss]

agreed.

i wonder how many hours hamelin practiced daily, does anyone know

[anonymousQ45]

9 to 10 hrs. but he has a specific agenda he follows.but a short concentrated practice,say 2 hours, is better than a long

seesion of incorrect practice

[callenishss]

yea i kno what u mean

how do u find out how long a pianist practices?

for example cziffra, or horowitz, or argerich, or hofmann?

[anonymousQ45]

documentaries. people who have met them ask questions as well and it gets aruond

[pookiehohn]

It's not how long, but how concentrated and correctly you practice.

[JSbeat]

i think it is how long do you practice concentraded and correctly.

not just one or the other

[pookiehohn]

Yes, I agree, but what I meant was that if given a choice, short proper practice always is better than long bad practice. But yeah both are better than one or none.

[invention13]

Its what Vince Lombardy said "practice doesn't make perfect - perfect practice makes perfect"

[minasgekos]

@invention13 and my instrument teacher used to say that perfection doesn't exists in this life

[afertyus1000]

@callenishss it has something to do with it but lok at his interview he even remembers by heart his first piece he played! he has a photographic memory and sight reads like reading a newspaper

[MountCashelTuck]

Can someone please tell me where I can get a list of concerts fror 2009 for MAH? I've been looking everwhere and can't find any. Is he playing in the UK at all?

[tompilk]

He's playing the Schumann quintet, with the Takacs Quartet, at QEH (11th May) and St Georges, Bristol (13th May). He's also playing a programme including Alkan's solo concerto (same as the video) at Wigmore Hall later in the year, although that doesn't appear to be up on their website yet. Hopefully he will play at Cheltenham Music Festival again too. That's all I'm aware of...

[necc0]

this is sincerely awesome....

such... i don't know why....

at least he has got quite a technique for playing

and as i like progressive metal y do like fast and hard to play things....

love alkan... first thing i listen from this composer

thanks for putting the video... i'd really really have the complete concert... anyone?.. or at least all parts for downloading... thanks.

[ReturnOfTheStienway]

I AM BACK.

[buildingblox]

Yeah that is something else. This is a performance that gets more impressive each time I hear it.

[filippeo85]

WOOOOOOOOOOOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[demosj]

A hundred times less prestige too. Clayderman makes his millions with his elevator and background music, yet cannot play a single major concerto, only excerpts.

God, what a joke.

[kage1369]

haha true!

but i'm sure hamelin earns good money too, have a look at where he plays and how many albums he records regarding the last 10 years.

btw, he improved right hands technics on 7:35 in comparison to the other vid containing the same mov. ^^

[pianomike1]

What really amazes me is the fact that Hamelin et al. is a virtuoso genius all right, but so what? People like Richard Clayderman who play ACTUAL melodies and thus win big audiences make 1000times more money with 1000times less notes.

Can you actually remember and whistle to me one catchy tune throughout this whole fingerbusting fireworks ??? JMHO. NEVERMIND, the Japanese audience was impressed, so at least some people were made happy. Merry Christmas.

[dryst420]

One who plays music for money needs his ass kicked. You play because you like it, and because you can understand the beauty in any simple and/or complex melody. Music doesn't make you live, no, you live for music when you play something like that. True passion comes from guys like Hamelin. Merry Christmas.

[GetMeThere1]

I'm glad your foot doesn't get around much--or you would have kicked the asses of almost all of the greatest musicians who ever lived.

...now, if you had said "...who plays music ONLY for money" ...

But who can determine whether someone does something for PRECISELY one reason only?

[theompizzle]

all i have to say...i'm sorry your mind is too small to find melody in this.

enjoy your simple chords and catchy melodies, while the rest of us bask in paradise.

[Pianisteny2k]

Yes, I am sure Clayderman is awfully proud to be able to play excerpts of Elvira Madigan, second mov.

And I am sure Hamelin will be proud to be compared to such genius as Clayderman!

...

Cause you are joking, right?

[demosj]

It would depend on the performer, nearenough3. If it is Hamelin, bring on any composer.

Thanks to whoever caught this extroardinary performance on film!

[nearenough3]

Ask yourself, would you rather be a castaway on a desert island with anyone playing all of Alkan or anyone playing as much as 10% of either Schubert or Schumann?

Alkan tries so hard! Sigh.

[playadom]

All of Alkan, no question.

[nearenough3]

Chacun a son gout.

[afertyus1000]

i agree,alkan was a bit of a nutcase apparently,it's a bit like the film 'rainman'a genius in mathematical problems but only machine-like i feel he had the same approach to music

[nearenough3]

Some other composers strike me similarly: Philip Glass, Colin Nancarrow, Sorabji, John Cage. Of pianists some are strange and robotic although with streaks of genius: Glenn Gould, John Ogdon, posssibly Hamelin. They seem to be able to play ANYTHING but does the music fill up one's comfort zone?

[afertyus1000]

yes don't get me wrong i admire greatly these pianists but how hard did they work to get this virtuosic talent? they are naturally gifted for the most part,[hamelin sight reads like we read a newspaper]and it seems some composers you have mentioned composed purely for technical prowess unfortunately leaving 'music' on the back burner

[nearenough3]

Thanks for your reply. I left out Michelangeli who also seems like a cold chisel. But it's great fun experiencing these savants esp after one has spent a lifetime learning a few Chopin etudes like I have. I am WAAAY into piano performance at age 71 trying to make new discoveries like the Hamelin phenomenon.

[brianCIM]

nearenough3 take a listen to michelangeli's chaconne and you will see he was MUCH, MUCH more than a cold chisel. i can't think of a more passionate performance of any piece EVER. my favorite pianist will always be artur rubinstein but in this piece michelangeli blows him out of the water. please do listen to this performance. i promise you will be astounded. best wishes, brian

[Frozentoes1]

Rather than answer you question, I would like to draw you attention to some of Hamelin's recordings of conventional music, i.e, Haydn Sonatas. Therein lies the proof that Hamelin is much more than a technical titan...he puts his technique to the service of the music.

[nearenough3]

I purchased Hamelin's Haydn and enjoyed it. I haven't heard enough of him to render a definitive judgment. as to whether I am thrilled emotionally with his playing over, say, Rubinstein, Horowitz or other romantic interpreters I have been pleased with. I'm 71 and have had a lifetime of listening.

[Frozentoes1]

Having had a lifetime of listening does not mean anything. For all intents and purposes, you may have 1 year of listening 71 times over.

[nearenough3]

Well, I am 71 and started to seriously listen to records, go to concerts and study with a good teacher at around the age of 13-14, but took routine lesson starting at 6. I was simply mentioning my qualifications informally to back up my opinion(s). I find Alkan unsophisticated, somewhat crude, with some scattered good ideas -- not all bad, but not all good or a consummate genius.

[KeithWhalen11]

I consider him more than a genius, his music may be crude to the average classical fan because it doesn't necessarily conform to certain norms in terms of structure. However Alkan had all the signs of a child prodigy, he was a brilliant pianist and a solfege master at a young age. His music is entirely unique and the events in his life shaped what you're hearing here. I think he's greatly misunderstood, but he is unequivocally one of the giants of piano literature.

[nearenough3]

I guess this is boiling down to taste. What I find peculiar is that very few performers have included Alkan in their repertoire. Believe me, I have 1000s of piano performances in my collection of recordings, and have gone to many concerts of famous pianists (not that any of this makes me an infallible expert), but I have encountered not one who has included Alkan's major work, not even a short piece as an encore. Yes, specialists like Hamelin play Alkan, but he is otherwise studiously ignored.

[scriabinwasmydad]

Alkan is ignored because his music is so hard to play. When you have pianists like Hamelin sweating over Alkan's Grande Sonata, it tells you that other pianists have no chance. You need to have an amazing technique to pull off some of Alkan's quasi-acrobatic pianistic stunts. This is not for the average concert pianist one sees on any given week at Carnegie.

[KeithWhalen11]

I've had the privilege of seeing Mr. Hamelin at Places Des Arts here in Montreal, it was a phenomenal evening but he played two Beethoven sonatas and one of Debussy's books of preludes. I would have liked to see some Alkan! I don't blame people for neglecting Alkan or even Sorabji, their pieces are terribly hard to perform, and with that being said many of there more accessible works are cast into the shadows. I doubt his miniatures are too crude? How come no one cares to play them?

[imawsome13]

greetings keith. Which two beethoven sonatas did hamelin play I wasn't away he even played any?

[KeithWhalen11]

Hey there, I'm 100% sure he played Op. 109 No. 30 and I'm thinking the second one he played was No. 32 but I can't remember it's been quite a while and I'm not all that familiar with the Beethoven sonatas. It was my first hearing of No. 30 and it just stuck with me big time.

[Marcomedina]

I respectfully ask you to go listen to his etude op. 35 no. 7 and then tell me Alkan is all show and no substance.

Thank you for your time.

[tonyshawk]

haha he can never get away without giving an encore after playing this

[squishym]

Wow, this piece sounds like Schubert on Lisztian crack! Pass the joint!

Hamelin certainly does it justice. I love how he maintains perfect fluidity whilst attacking those awesome accents!

[lonelyninlove]

its cool XD

[steinwaykid]

Hamelin, the GREATEST technician of our time!!!!!

[tonyshawk]

At the same time, you can't deny that he's also an artist

[auerod]

No disrespect to the late Ronald Smith, who has been as influential with Alkan as Casals was with Bach, but I think Hamelin's Concerto is the king of all versions out there, including those by Smith, Ogdon, Gibbons, Latimer, McCallum. The more difficult decision is which of the Hamelin do you choose. While the performance on Music and Arts recording is stupendous, I've never been a fan of the Yamaha tingy sound. It's a small sound for a very large piece. Anyone else agree?

[davealkan]

I intensely dislike Hamelin's interpretation on the newer disk, so I would go for the M&A recording every time.

I think the sound quality on the older recording is more an issue of M&A's recording technique. I may even remember hearing they used just one microphone. Now I'm no expert but I presume that's no good way to set up a recording! I don't think Hamelin liked the piano or the acoustic, either...

I rather like Yamahas personally!

(Though I'm not Hamelin!)

[JoePatrych]

The Music and Arts recording was made on Oct 21st, 1991 - obviously, it was done with a stereo pair of microphones - Neumann KM140's

[brianCIM]

ok guys i have a question. what do you think of ronald smith's legendary recording? i still love it. he has an enormous technique. how does anyone play comme le vent like that. i wish hamelin would record the first 3 etudes. i sense it would be scary.

[davealkan]

I have to say I think Smith's recording of the Concerto is the all time greatest. Though he takes the Cadenza of the first movement, and the whole of the last movement below tempo, which now seems enough for most to write him off musically. I am stunned by this rendition of the last movement, but Hamelin never achieves that incredible large-scale musical shaping Smith achieves, in this, or in either commercial recording he's made.

[mephyman]

What playing!!!

[KOUTSIOU91]

yeah men...sorry for this..mi little brother just can't bear my listenings...this is not the first time he messes up with my computer,,,HE EVEN MESSES UP WITH MY FAVOURITE LIST... :( oh god...anyway enjoy the track!!!

[tompilk]

don't worry. post removed :)

[KOUTSIOU91]

thanks :D

[revilo244]

There is no words. no words... justt.... wow....that....hamelin lives on foreever!!!!!! hehehe ok jk

[thewayup]

the hyperion recording is much better

[brianCIM]

thank you so much for your reply. i have always been a little dissatisfied with the earlier recording. of course technically it is peerless, but i don't like the sound on it. just too dry for my taste. he was playing on a yamaha on the old recording which to me i didnt care for. hyperion recordings always have a great, lush sound so i think i will buy it. once again many thanks thewayup.

[thewayup]

no worries! hyperions recording technique is flawless, they are the best label around at the moment. also Hamelin's playing is better on this recording, the structure is a lot clearer, enjoy!

[davealkan]

Most people seem to prefer the Hyperion recording. However, I think his M&A recording is far better musically. Even so, I prefer this to either of them. Listen to how he makes that RH melody sing at 7.10. Completely out of this world!

[davealkan]

sorry - there is really something up with my browser - last comment was meant as a reply to Brian's question... i hit the 'reply' button but it didn't work...

[brianCIM]

do any of you guys own the new hamelin/alkan concerto on hyperion records? how does it compare to his older recording on music&arts. let me know if i should buy it. thanks

[TomOwen77]

Before Hamelin there was no "supervirtuoso". All other pianists are in his shade. Grasp of keyboard, disarming power and accuracy, perfect, rounded sound and extreme tempo, a huge repertoire, it sounds like he has been born there earlier and has the headstart on the learning curve. There are more fine pianists around than ever. But Hamelin is something else - really, the only "Supervirtuoso" I can think of. The only guy who could meet with a Rachmaninoff or a Busoni and walk them over.

[brianCIM]

i think hamelin is phenomenal, but i slightly disagree Tom. i was thinking michelangeli had a lot of the same qualities(excluding the fact that he had a very limited repertoire). michelangeli's best performances(he could be rather uneven) display a complete command of every aspect of pianistic technique that makes my jaw drop. i definitely am not criticizing hamelin though. this is SUPER-HUMAN and frightening. AWESOME post Tompilk! thank you for this.

[TomOwen77]

Bri

I can agree with you on Michelangeli - his recording of Brahms Ballade no 4 is heart-wrending, slow, mellow, full of the experience of life. So a pianist reputed for never missing a note can display emotion. But as you say he was a streaky one. Hamelin is consistent in all but the most, most extreme music (eg Scriabin no 6 where Glemser or Ashkenazy have speed and magic over drama). He's probably a sound, well-balanced guy and hence makes mincemeat of pretty much everything!

[brianCIM]

michelangeli's bach chaccone is almost beyond belief. same for his brahms-pagganini variations and gaspard de la nuit. the absolute summit of technique. and you are right Tom. his ballade no. 4 is stunning.

[davealkan]

Does anyone know how old he was when this video was taken?

[pianovideo]

I would guess around 1992. That is when he made his first recording of this piece.

[JoePatrych]

The video was a love concert the day before the recording session for Music and Arts - Oct 20, 1991

[YukutoAmaji]

His techniques are beyond my imagination.

I just lost my words. He is a supervirtuoso I think and I respect him as much as Heifetz a violinist who I think one of a virtuoso.

[stienwayz]

Hey thanks for uploading these back up! I was looking for them!

[davealkan]

At 8.08 How on earth does he keep going without slowing? This is simply incredible stuff, at the end of a 55 minute piece...

I have openly criticised Hamelin's Alkan interpretations but this is just... Wow!!!

[davealkan]

I think the second half of this video is simply unbelievable. Still don't agree with Hamelin's interpretation in many ways, but this is sublime stuff.

[auerod]

Oh my sweet jesus! How many in the history of piano could play like this? To say that this is simply scintillating and sensational would an insult. Gibbons and Ogdon are downright tame next to this. This is incomparable!!!

[josepharimathea]

Sorry to disagree with 'auerod' and others here, but for me Hamelin completely misses the point of the music, playing it so much faster than Alkan's own metronome marking (100) that the beauty and passion of the music are missing (at least for me), particularly around 6:01. He also throws away the amazing climax at 7:35 and his speed is so fast he has to slow down at 6:45 when Alkan directs the music to speed up! Gibbons (in my opinion) brings much more depth than either Hamelin or Ogdon.

[brianCIM]

you could also mention ronald smith's recording. ronald smith and alkan are that rare match. a marriage of pianist and composer. there is more epic sweep in his recording and i prefer his tone and sense of structure.

obvioulessy this hamelin performance is jaw-dropping.

[josepharimathea]

Absolutely, I agree with you brianCIM and should have mentioned his name: Ronald Smith's recordings are very special (including his first 'abridged' recording of the Alkan Concerto from c.1971? - I wish someone would upload THAT to YouTube as I no longer have my copy). I wish Ronald Smith had more fans on YouTube to compete with the almost constant adulation Hamelin receives. For me fast fingers are never a substitute for an interesting mind. I get very bored with this constant speed obsession.

[feifeskufus]

when was this filmed?

[Reaper978]

What I find most amazing is how little credit Hamelin seems to receive after tackling such extreme repertoire, and playing it with brisk tempos and brilliant musicality. An incredible pianist.

[tompilk]

i completely agree. phenominal musician. the devotion he has to the music is super-human.

[teacherschoice147]

Amazin!!!!

[johnbaptistlulu]

holly mother of god, look at these jumps, at such a speed!!hamelin is one of the most accomplished pianists today, no doubt.this piece would even give good old liszt a hard time!

[franzklavier]

INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!