Anthony Tommasini
The New York Times
March 2014

Ferruccio Busoni, the pianist, composer, conductor, editor and pedagogue, who was born in Italy in 1866 and died in Germany in 1924, devoted his career to forging links between the Italian and German musical traditions, while tapping into Eastern thought and mysticism. A phenomenal pianist, Busoni wrote volumes of piano music. This three-CD set presents Marc-André Hamelin, another formidable pianist, in Busoni works from the first quarter of the 20th century. The music draws from the heritage of Bach, Liszt and Wagner, while taking modern paths and anticipating atonality. Even when a particular piece seems amorphous or elusive, these elegies, fantasias, sonatinas and more are continually fascinating, especially in Mr. Hamelin’s commanding performances.