Artists:
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN (piano, Canada)


Programme:
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN - Piano Sonata, Op. 106 in B flat major (Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier)

ROBERT SCHUMANN  - "Forest Scenes", Op. 82 ("Waldszenen")

MAURICE RAVEL - "Gaspard of the Night", M. 55 ("Gaspard de la nuit")

"Mission Possible" is only possible for a master like Marc-André Hamelin! The Montreal-born, Boston-based stage personality has been described by The New York Times as "a performer of almost superhuman technical prowess". That these are not empty words is evident from M.-A. Hamelin has given recitals at the world's greatest concert halls and festivals, received 11 Grammy nominations, awards from the Ontario Foundation for the Arts and other honours, a Canadian state decoration, and the admiration of audiences around the world.

M.-A. Hamelin is a Hyperion Records artist extraordinaire, with a discography of more than 70 albums (solo, orchestral and chamber works) and a wide stylistic range that includes music from Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's sonatas and rondoes to William Bolcom's ragtime. The pianist, who has mastered the most difficult classical opuses, a refined sound palette, a sense of humour and, according to the critics, a "chameleon's ability to persuade", is also known as the successor of the famous reggae maestro James P. Johnson. "Is there another pianist in the world who, after giving us the revelatory two-record C. Ph. E. E. Bach's review of two discs, could he so skilfully look back to the reggae of the late 20th century? This man is a marvel", writes the solid Gramophone.

At the Vilnius Festival, M.-A. Hamelin invites you to hear his interpretations of great classical, romantic and impressionist opuses, which not every pianist takes up because of their musical and intellectual depth and the challenges of playing technique: some of them are described by the performers as "simply unplayable".