The Composer-Pianists

Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket (c1875) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)

CDA67050

Recording details: January 1998
Abbey Road Studios, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Andrew Keener
Engineered by Simon Rhodes
Release date: June 1998
Total duration: 68 minutes 12 seconds

GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE
PREIS DER DEUTSCHEN SCHALLPLATTENKRITIK

'Everything is of the most absorbing interest; everything is impeccably performed. Irresistible for pianists, this disc should be in every musician's collection' (Gramophone)

'Rampant supernova pianism ... a Pandora's Box of riches no connoisseur will want to miss' (International Piano Quarterly)

`An adventurous, original programme by one of today's most remarkable keyboard talents - a piano connoisseur's dream CD' (Classic CD)

'Staggering feats of bravura with an effortless insouciance that defies belief. A collector's item, without doubt' (Sunday Times)

'Dazzling. Best of the Month' (Classic FM Magazine)

The Composer-Pianists

Marc-André Hamelin (piano)

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LISTEN TO ALL EXTRACTS

	MP3	FLAC	ALAC
1	£0.40	£0.40	£0.40	Toccata in G flat major Op 13 [3'18] Leopold Godowsky (1870-1938)
2	£0.40	£0.40	£0.40	Poème tragique Op 34 [3'13] Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)
3	£0.50	£0.50	£0.50	Étude No 9 in F minor 'after Rossini' [3'48] Marc-André Hamelin (b1961) English Français Deutsch
4	£0.25	£0.25	£0.25	Étude No 10 in F sharp minor 'after Chopin' [2'01] Marc-André Hamelin (b1961) English Français Deutsch
5	£0.45	£0.45	£0.45	Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter BWV650 [3'29] Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Samuel Feinberg (1890-1962)
				Symphony No 94 in G major 'Surprise' Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), arr. Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888)
6	£0.75	£0.75	£0.75	Movement 2: Andante [5'48]
				48 Esquisses Op 63 Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888)
7	£0.15	£0.15	£0.15	Book 4 No 46: Le premier billet doux [1'05]
8	£0.30	£0.30	£0.30	Book 4 No 47: Scherzetto [2'11]
9	£1.70	£1.70	£1.70	Fantasia after J S Bach BV253 [13'37] Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) English Français Deutsch
				Moments musicaux Op 16 revised Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
10	£0.35	£0.35	£0.35	No 2: E flat minor [2'45]
				Études-tableaux Op 33 Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
11	£0.20	£0.20	£0.20	No 7: E flat major [1'37]
	£0.40	£0.40	£0.40	Deux Poèmes Op 71 [3'09] Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)
12	£0.15	£0.15	£0.15	Fantastique [1'18]
13	£0.25	£0.25	£0.25	En rêvant, avec une grande douceur [1'51]
14	£0.60	£0.60	£0.60	Berceuse Op 19a [4'53] Samuel Feinberg (1890-1962)
				Trois Morceaux Op 31 Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951) English Français Deutsch
15	£0.90	£0.90	£0.90	No 1: Improvisation: Andantino, gracile [7'02]
16	£0.50	£0.50	£0.50	Pastiche on the Hindu Merchant's Song from 'Sadko' by Rimsky-Korsakov [4'05] Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (1892-1988)
17	£0.80	£0.80	£0.80	Étude No 12 in A flat minor 'Prelude and Fugue' [6'11] Marc-André Hamelin (b1961) English Français Deutsch

A showcase for Marc-André Hamelin, this disc focuses on the work of a group of composers, all virtuoso pianists themselves, who were fascinated by the possibilities of sound and colour inherent in the piano which could be realized by the transcendentally-equipped executant. Marc himself composes in this tradition and for many the highlight of this disc will be the three studies of his own—pianophiles who until now have only heard these pieces as encores at his recitals will be delighted that these works have finally been recorded.

While much of the music is thrillingly virtuosic there is also much which is haunting, such as the Feinberg Berceuse, and the emotional heart of the recital is surely Busoni's Fantasia nach J S Bach, written to commemorate the death of his father. Surprisingly, there is also a strong element of wry humour (also a characteristic of the performer!) which runs from the Haydn/Alkan to the Rossini/Hamelin via Sorabji.

All in all, a kaleidoscopic recital which is sure to become a classic.

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