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Track(s) taken from CDA67275

Étude No 6 in D minor 'Esercizio per pianoforte, Omaggio a Domenico Scarlatti'

composer
1992; published by C. F. Peters Corp., New York

Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
Recording details: February 2001
Henry Wood Hall, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Andrew Keener
Engineered by Tony Faulkner
Release date: October 2001
Total duration: 3 minutes 21 seconds

Cover artwork: Front illustration. Donya Claire James (b?)
 

Other recordings available for download

Marc-André Hamelin (piano)

Reviews

‘Hamelin's performances are a wonder of brilliance and refinement. The recordings are superb, Jeremy Nicholas's notes a mine of informative titbits. In Marc-André Hamelin Hyperion clearly has a pianist to turn other record companies green with envy’ (Gramophone)

‘This collection of virtuoso encores by mostly forgotten pianist-composers is simply sensational’ (The Sunday Times)

‘Twenty encore pieces for lovers of superhuman virtuosity’ (Classic FM Magazine)

‘Even if you are used to drawing your breath with incredulity at Hamelin's performances, you should tighten your seat-belt: This disc will make you gasp in amazement and roar in outraged laughter at the same time … the piano disc of the year, perfect in every aspect. Run out and buy it now’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘In latter times a new breed of pianist has appeared, the super-virtuoso for whom no technical challenge is too much. Chief of this tribe of metamusicians is the Canadian pianist Marc-André Hamelin, whose playing defies rational explanation … this is, in short, some of the most phenomenal playing you’ll ever hear’ (Punch)

„Hamelin's refinement, jaw-dropping virtuosity and sense of sheer fun combine to make the whole lot both irresistible and simply unbelievable. With Hamelin around, who needs Horowitz?“ (Piano, Germany)
Domenico Scarlatti’s 555 keyboard sonatas constitute a body of work replete with marvellous invention and amazing variety. Yet, inevitably perhaps, there are recurring mannerisms, and to someone like myself who is easily given to lampooning, these are very easy to make fun of. Anyone who, like me, loves these sonatas should not in the least take offence at what I’ve done in No 6, Esercizio per pianoforte ‘Omaggio a Domenico Scarlatti’—this is a purely affectionate tribute, even though I have obviously exaggerated a few things! The acrobatic nature of the writing adds a humorous visual dimension to any live performance, a dimension that is of course lost in a recording.

from notes by Marc-André Hamelin © 2010

Les 555 sonates pour clavier de Domenico Scarlatti constituent un ensemble d’œuvres qui regorgent d’une merveilleuse invention et d’une exceptionnelle variété. Pourtant et c’est peut-être inévitable, il y a des caractéristiques récurrentes qu’il est très facile de tourner en dérision pour quelqu’un comme moi qui se livre facilement à la satire. Quiconque aime ces sonates comme moi ne devrait pas le moins du monde s’offenser de ce que j’ai fait dans la no 6, Esercizio per pianoforte «Omaggio a Domenico Scarlatti»—c’est un hommage purement affectueux, même s’il est évident que j’ai exagéré quelques petites choses! La nature acrobatique de l’écriture ajoute une dimension visuelle humoristique à toute exécution «live», dimension bien sûr perdue dans un enregistrement.

extrait des notes rédigées par Marc-André Hamelin © 2010
Français: Marie-Stella Pâris

Domenico Scarlattis 555 Cembalo-Sonaten bilden einen Werk-Kosmos, übervoll an wunderbarer Erfindung und Vielfalt. Trotzdem trifft man (vielleicht unvermeidlich) auf immer wiederkehrende Eigenheiten, und für jemand wie mich, der eine durchaus spöttische Ader hat, ist es kein Problem, sich darüber lustig zu machen. Niemand, der wie ich diese Sonaten liebt, sollte sich auch nur im Geringsten darüber ärgern, was ich in Nr. 6 Esercizio per pianoforte „Omaggio a Domenico Scarlatti“ getan habe. Das ist nichts als eine reine Liebeserklärung, auch wenn ich offenbar ein paar Sachen übertrieben habe! Der akrobatische Klaviersatz hat bei jeder Aufführung allein schon optisch eine humorige Note, eine Dimension, die natürlich bei einer Aufnahme fehlt.

aus dem Begleittext von Marc-André Hamelin © 2010
Deutsch: Ludwig Madlener

Other albums featuring this work

Hamelin: Études
CDA67789
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