Hamelin plays Alkan Symphonie Finale Presto

[Darrning]

superficial....

[CrocodileRocker]

Don't know why people assume that people with great technique lack musicianship. Saw him play live tonight, and he showed everyone through great diversity of repertoire that he's compensating for absolutely nothing.

[fredericfranc]

...in Paris, you betake your ass to an establishment staffed by the professional ladies, to get this kind thing out of your system,Chopin would have told him that, but, no, Alkan HAD to get it out onto the keyboard...and, fuck yes, Mr. Hamelin gets it all out for us...

[mfed42]

dear lord 1:28. what an amazing dynamic change.

[jiririji]

Is he human¿

[bfeyalcin]

I love Valentina Lisitsa and Marc-André Hamelin because of this. They make look every piece sooooooo easy.

[giuseppe76761]

immenso hamelin

[s1earle]

O well I hope that it is messy by now and gets the licking it deserves...

[s1earle]

I like the lack of pianist sway and dreaming - just look at Jorge Bolet, he proves that playing is in the fingers not the face...I once saw a pianist sway too much in performance and fall off the seat, we all laughed, let that be a lesson to all "dreamers".

[cfwpiano]

@s1earle Not everyone has a stiff pole up their ass like you.

[ShabatyDoob]

@s1earle please don't be so harsh. i have seen many amazing "dreamers" at the National Piano Competition in Washington D.C.

[Carlosrenti]

Who said practice makes perfect? It didnt work for me

[OldRabit]

Simply brilliant!

[TardsOfParadise]

fake

[abokadoSM]

easy for him?

[Piggywarz]

2.31

The awesome music hit the camera.

DOUBLE VISION.

[bouzignac]

Superbe !

Beaucoup mieux que Listzt !

[tomekkobialka]

Again, good performance by Hamelin but...THAT CAMERA HAS GOT AMAZING SOUND QUALITY! O_o

[gigigood1]

2:00 favorite part

[794662]

VERY GOOD WORK

[perry1559]

The only one who could exceed the visceral excitement of Hamelin was Raymond Lewenthal. (and maybe Ogden on a good day)

[utubuser10]

Just came back from seeing Hamelin at Symphony Center here in Chicago.. Have also been listening to all these young, super talented pianists on line from the last Int'l Chopin competition the past couple of weeks. I must say they pale beside the likes of a Mr. Hamelin. He played this work this evening and it was jaw dropping. However, given that Hamelin is a transcendent pianist (musically and technically) I'm not quite convinced that Alkan is a "great" composer?

[zaxtrax]

@utubuser10 I actually saw him a few days after you in Greensboro, NC. I also had the good fortune to be part of a group who went for dinner with him afterwards. It turns out that not only is he a phenomenal musician, but he's also a really nice guy.

[utubuser10]

@zaxtrax wow, how fortunate! i can only imagine what the conversation was like at the dinner table. did he expound on his reasons for championing the music of alkan?

[zaxtrax]

@utubuser10 No, he didn't really go into it. One thing I never knew is that he never studied with anyone really famous nor went to any big conservatory. So he's really sort of an anomaly. I did mention to him that his playing inspired me to want to practice more. He told me that he's happy to hear that, since a lot of people tell him his playing makes them want to give up the instrument, which he finds sad.

[0911926166]

where can i find this sheet music ( FREE sheet music) ?

[perry1559]

@0911926166 the Petrucci Library.

[perry1559]

@0911926166 the Petrucci Library.

(YT won't let you post links in the comments.)

[mikejr41387]

i met marc the other night in NYC, very nice guy!

[brianCIM]

@mikejr41387 yes he is. I was terrified to talk to him and sign my program. I just don't do those kind of things. He was so warm and humble when i told him how much I admired his championing of neglected composers. Just a really sweet guy. I always think pianists personalities come out in their playing. Actually i saw him in NY 3 times and as always was so humble and easy-going. Very inspirational pianist. BUT, I am working on the Alkan concerto now and then i think "why bother". he humbled ME!

[Mozartstavanger]

Only me who hear a lot of Beethoven in this piece?

[JPConnolly2]

@Mozartstavanger

More Mendelssohnian for me...

[f1f1s]

@Mozartstavanger Yes, only you. =)

Alkan appreciated Beethoven and sometimes his pieces are so classical, even hardly romantic, but this happened not too often.

I made a great mistake - after this performance, while looking how "easilly Hamelin pwns this piece", I dared to download the score and start learning. Naive - a vain attempt to approach the great virtuoso... Op. 39 No. 7 rapes me again and again!

[FranzLisztian]

@f1f1s

It's very baroque at times too

[OrangeSodaKing]

@f1f1s Why not try a different work? I'm doing first movement and it's coming along much better than the fourth would.

[OrangeSodaKing]

daf***inmart, you upload some of the coolest videos. :)

[1980NewWave]

HOW THE HELL DOES HE DO THAT

I would practically give up everything I own to be able to play like he does

[Malaka57]

@1980NewWave ... good deal, you give up everything you own, then play like that, and earn enough to get everything back ...;-) good trick...

I see your point. I think he just takes a deep breath and like the martial arts wizzes, he slows the world down...

[JOHNNYWADTON]

@1980NewWave Well give you as to me and I will make you paly this good. I am a genie btw so star dropping your pants now...

[geneimperfect]

@1980NewWave You do realize how much the man HAS given up in order to be able to play like that... You literally give your life to play like he does.

[OrangeSodaKing]

@geneimperfect Yes, he's a very, very hard worker and devotes so much time to it.

[ilwmb]

@OrangeSodaKing he doesnt, just read some of his interviews. ("naturally lazy", "u'd be suprised how little time i spend on the piano".... etc..)

[hermanshermits124124]

@OrangeSodaKing Lol because of your pianoworld signature I am here, never heard of Alkan before hahahha

[OrangeSodaKing]

@hermanshermits124124

Hehe, that's great! But if this is your FIRST hearing of Alkan, I think you should listen to Hamelin's recording of all four movements of the symphony to get a more accurate picture of the context of this movement. The first movement is my favorite. It's all on YouTube, too. :)

[Lukecash12]

@geneimperfect I gave my life to play less well than he does :)

[1980NewWave]

@geneimperfect - no doubt there were sacrifices on his part, but don't forget that this is his profession. Just as you or I get up every day and go to work in an office (or wherever), he gets up and practices piano. And I think in Hamelin's case, it's equal parts natural talent and hard work. 99% of people, even if they practice 15 hours a day for years, could probably never play like Hamelin does.

[wborgstro]

I hear it and I see it, but I don't believe it. Could any human being actually play like this?

Marc, are you real?

Bravo just isn't enough.

[Fon92i]

the sound is very good for a camrecorder...

[tompilk]

this was a live radio broadcast, and I believe the poster must have put that audio to his own video footage.

[dafuckinmart]

haha da pilkah getz da trick

[CVAlkanSho]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[ultracoolhomies]

I love how he gets tiny at 1:06

[Jim341046]

This is brilliant. I'd love to see this guy live.

[jasonextreme]

You have no idea how much patience it takes to play Alkan. That being said, it goes the same will all pieces being practiced but mostly Alkan

[mdeonx16]

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap Alkan's music in a single bound; IT'S HAMELIN! My hero :''3

[Jim341046]

Me too! - I'm just sorry I didn't know about him sooner. A living legend. Not many of those around.

[JalalSela]

Are you sure that this is Marc André Hamelin? He sounds like him... but dosn't look like him (maybe it's the glasses), anyway... Great Piece, Great Pianist, Thanks for the video... 5 stars

[LetTheMusicFlow1]

yes it is. I was surprised too, at first. then I realized, who could play with that technique? HAMELIN.

[Jim341046]

I agree, but then who else could be?

[TheBananian]

good freakin lord. what CANT this guy play?!

[fdaltrey]

He said he couldn't play Boulez's Second Sonata and Ligeti's First Etude (Desordre) in an interview.

[Jim341046]

The reason he likes Alkan is because everything else is too easy.

[LetTheMusicFlow1]

well theres always Godowsky, Sorabji......

[muslit]

@Jim341046

in fact. if he played a beethoven sonata it would sound terrible.

[OrangeSodaKing]

@muslit Actually, some people I know who went to see him and loved how he plays Beethoven's Op. 111 sonata, as well as the other 100's.

[muslit]

@OrangeSodaKing

by what i've heard and seen on youtube, i couldn't imagine it. and the number '111' doesn't refer to 111 sonatas.

[Laudan08]

@Jim341046 Liszt= eaten bread.

[ciliaspippi]

@Jim341046

Although, I do not think he plays Alkan becayse it is only difficult. It is beautiful music both technically, harmonically, and musically.

[thegreatapologist]

@Jim341046 ?? So many list pieces are harder. They just don't seem so because so many people play them.

[muslit]

@Jim341046

actually, two simple notes would be difficult for hamelin. they would expose his lack of temperament more than a thousand notes would.

[amxmachine]

@muslit what a fool you are /watch?v=cDhT4fiECpM

[floofers]

I love this Alkan piece; nice to see another performance of it on YT. My favourite is "Alkanian's" versions, esp as he is an amateur. Marc-A H plays it more nicely up to 2 mins, but when those descending arpeggios come in at 2.02, I think Alkanian plays it better - more clearly, because it's ever slightly more slow.

[lordtains]

yeah from 2 minutes up he puts more emotion into it

[spwvu]

Alkanian doesn't come close to playing this song this well. He does a good job however, if he were as good as Hamelin...well, he'd be a world famous and widely considered as the best pianist in the world, too. Hamelin does this piece justice without a doubt. Both good interpretations but Hamelin has a better touch and makes way less mistakes.

[brianCIM]

@spwvu Sad as it is, in today's most successful performers i must disagree. Luck is a huge part of it. I know pianists who are AMAZING and they don't get lucrative recording contracts like Hamelin, Kissin, or Volodos. I do agree with your opinion on this performance and respect his courage to play neglected repertoire. I am sure he could play the Rach 3 at the drop of a hat, but he chose a different path and the world is better for that. But talent=sucess. NO. two words. Clang Clang

[SevenCircles]

@brianCIM

Correct, if you haven´t won any major international competition or have great contacts then chances are that you won´t get a record deal as a solo pianist these days. Piracy is a huge problem for classical music as well.

[brianCIM]

@SevenCircles yet the elation one feels when one is on stage and has the audience in the palm of their hand is the most euphoric feeling i know. No drug, alcohol, anything compares with it. Even the great clarinet player Artie Shaw, who was married 8 times to BEAUTIFUL women, said, "it's better than sex."

[SevenCircles]

@brianCIM

Correct, I have performed on National TV here in Sweden. An amazing experience. Only very few new soloists make it these days though. I wonder how many debutalbums by young classical pianists that were released during 2009? Propably very few.

[thegreatapologist]

@spwvu Give him a brake! He's a college student! Give him time!

[Vesivian]

@spwvu If you call it a song than you are surely mistaken. :)

[joernbroeker]

very musical playing

not too "dead" and perfect

the little mistakes keep it alive

very good interpretation

[Yollaboe1993]

Awesome! [but I pity the piano.]

[Pianista061292]

I wanna play like him.........but I'd like to be more emotive....

[pookiehohn]

I think he's plenty emotive. His superior technique allows for an immense dynamic range.

[zkool5]

Man, this piece is too hard for him.

[OrangeSodaKing]

"Hamelin" and "hard" don't fit in the same sentence...

[llamasownyou]

What about "Hamelin can play hard pieces very well"?

[pookiehohn]

It almost looks like the camera shakes in time with the notes as he plays them. A clear reminder that his playing is very powerful.

[pookiehohn]

Anyone who says that he plays with no "soul" need to see this.

[choi0909]

he's touches make a few dull piano sounds...

but i agree many peoples that he's mad movement of fingers

he can plays anything

[spwvu]

Hamelin is just frickin sick. lol

[fanguism]

He's one of the most effortless pianists i have seen

[ultracoolhomies]

The video is in great quality, thanks.

[gamma357]

This is a good reminder to why we should work hard if we want to ever become this good and...accept the fact that Hamelin is ridiculous at piano.

[fritocheeto]

>Lukecash12 (1 month ago)

>I admire his technical and tonal touch, but his dynamics are, let's say...monotonous.

??? From pearly to huge...what are you talking about?

[grdiii]

I have heard Hamelin in concert three times. I even heard him play the Alkan Symphony on one program. I can attest that his dynamic range is quite large. Recording eq

[GregLile]

When will people learn that you cannot judge dynamics one 'home videos.' The audio is compressed just like TV specifically to provide a consistent dynamic level. . .a recording technique that doesn't lend itself well to this type of material.

[Frozentoes1]

Reality check:

His superior technique allows him to have total control, including dynamics and tone. I find Hamelin's tonal palet to be among the richest among touring virtuosi today.

[lacrymosa85]

@Frozentoes1 better than Volodos' tonal abilities?

[Frozentoes1]

Perhaps. Perhaps not. Who cares. Doesn't change my comment.

[grdiii]

The man is a machine or is this proof of Aliens among us ;> ?

[kage1369]

it is ;)

[Sammo913]

Magnifique! très bon piano. Il faut avoir du cran pour jouer du Alkan

[sonicv3]

unbelievable clarity!

[quesadiya]

wow how complicated and beautifulit is!

[Razaak]

Wonderfully exciting work, especially under such capable hands! Listening to this performance next to those of Raymond Lewenthal and Jack Gibbons is like watching three perfect qualifying laps from Schumacher, Prost and Senna. I find it impossible to choose between them.

[Lukecash12]

beautiful piece though, and a good interpretation.

[Lukecash12]

I admire his technical and tonal touch, but his dynamics are, let's say...monotonous.

[imawsome13]

7000th comment lol

great playing!

[OverFjell]

I guess they don't call Hamelin a supervirtuoso for nothing, this is incredible o_O

[hanniswurst]

from 2:02 it's amazing!

[ByronJanis]

Marc André Hamelin You are a LEGEND!!!

[awwsnapson]

Too many notes.

[brianCIM]

Amadeus-"oh how shall one say herr direktor? too many notes. just cut a few and it will be perfect- which did you have in mind your majesty?

uh awwnapson, there are as many as required, neither more or less.

[framaulo]

astonishing :-|

[Sanrus]

Performances like this ecplain why MAH is the beginning of a new era of piano performance. Phenomenal in every way!!!

SR

[mcmilld1]

Anyone know when and where this video was taped, and also what else was on the program? Is there more video from this concert?

[LacrimosaApotheosis]

incredible technique. i think that he also does a decent job of expressing emotion through this work...which is made especially difficult by the virtuosic technical demands...simply amazing.

[laydowninthegrass]

this proves my theory that hamelin is actual a space alien and not a human

[wargreymagic]

fantastic playing! i wonder if alkan himself

could have played it the way hamelin does..

[mikhailasanovic]

nutter

[parule]

Genius!

[davealkan]

Yes, as always with Hamelin, amazing technique.

I always criticise Hamelin for going too fast, but I don't think his overall tempo here is. But it sounds as if he's doing everything possible at cadence points, rests and anywhere where there is the tiniest relenting in the music, to shave off the seconds, which, for me, doesn't make for a successful piece of MUSIC!

[mdeonx12]

I would say this man is 50% talent, and >9000% practice.

[KeithWhalen11]

And how comforting a notion that is to anyone who wasn't born with a piano in front of them! Practice can go a long long way if you have the drive.

[impossimadnescyAJ]

So, in your opinion, his practice is...

OVER 9000!

[KeithWhalen11]

In my opinion, I think he's one of the hardest working piano players in the history of the art, not to belittle any other performer but the repertoire he takes on is just astounding; so is his limitless technical proficiency.

[darkgod5]

Hahah. if you knew anything about Hamelin you would know he is extremely talented and can pick up a very difficult song very quickly. The only thing is he will still practice it so much that he gets every note perfectly how he wants it so it's (realistically) really:

90% talent, 110% practice

[NapSeason]

No way, he's way more than 50% talent... most people can practice forever and not be as good as him.

[anonymousQ45]

i agree with you but he works extremely hard.

[addeex1]

who wouldn´t word hard on this piece? :P

[LongDriveChamp03]

I also agree with you that Hamelin is truly an amazing pianist. But what you're watching is most likely the culmination of hours upon hours of relentless practicing as well a lifetime of playing the piano.

[ArcaneWaif]

"Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration."

[w3sp]

Gotta hate Hamelin for making everything look so damn easy :-)

[darkgod5]

Wow, this and Alkan's grande sonate are the only pieces I've heard Hamelin make lots of mistakes in. Of course its a formidable performance by all means.

[celach]

yea, but his hyperion label recordings of them are flawless :)

[stienwayz]

Hammy has got some skillz!

THANK YOU!

=)

[terryregnar]

GODLIKE CONTRIBUTION !!! THIS IS GRIM

[elsitavasquez]

Gracias es fantastico!

[sanctusignis]

AHAHAHAHAHA DA MART DELIVERS DA DOCTAH 8)

Awesome vid.

[gromoglas77]

Excellent! Thank for posting!

[damildlyshreddah]

HAHAHAHAHAHA DA MART