Pianist Marc-André Hamelin says the 12 pieces in his Los Alamos show display a fascinating variety
In the secret lives of professional musicians, there are certain pieces they play on the concert stage that they like more than others. The program that Canadian-born pianist Marc-André Hamelin will perform Sunday in Los Alamos with the Los Alamos Concert Association is one of his favorites.
“I love this program,” he said by phone from his home in Boston. “I played it a couple of weeks ago in Moscow. There are two sonatas in the first half that are in the same key, but they couldn’t be more contrasting.”
Hamelin performs one of the sonatas featured on the Grammy-nominated two-disc set of Haydn piano sonatas he put together last year. He describes “Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI: 32” as having an austere beginning, a tender second movement and an urgent presto. He concludes the first half with Chopin’s “Sonata No. 3 in B minor.”
“It starts off with an upright, noble first movement,” he explained. “The scherzo is playful and over in about three minutes. The third movement is like a nocturne. The fourth is epic, tragic and heroic with displays of glory.”
While many piano students undertake learning at least some of the 12 pieces in Debussy’s “Preludes Book I,” Hamelin has not yet gotten around to studying them. However, he has been interested in the composer’s second book of 12 preludes, which he says are less conservative in style than the first group. He will perform “Preludes Book II” in its entirety after intermission.
“They’re a richly contrasted series of pieces,” he added. “It’s fascinating to show the great variety of moods in these 12 works by playing them together. The whole group takes about 40 minutes to perform.”
Born in Montreal in 1961, Hamelin was introduced to piano music by his father and began his piano studies at the age of 5. Four years later he won the top prize in a Canadian music competition.
In demand as a recitalist and orchestral guest artist, Hamelin began the 2007-08 season by debuting with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood and at the Mostly Mozart Festival. During the season he has debuted as a recitalist with the Great Performers Series at Lincoln Center, with Chicago Symphony Presents and at the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival in Michigan. He has performed in chamber concerts with Midori at Lincoln Center and at the Kennedy Center and presented solo recitals throughout Europe and North America.
Hamelin has recorded more than 40 CDs, mostly on the Hyperion label. Although his recording of the Haydn sonatas did not win a Grammy this year, Hamelin got some great news less than two weeks ago.
“I just won a Juno Award (Canada’s answer to the Grammies),” he said. “It was for my recording of the ‘Alkan Concerto for Solo Piano.’ I’m really excited.”
If You Go
WHAT: The Los Alamos Concert Association presents pianist Marc-André Hamelin.
WHEN: 4 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE: Duane Smith Auditorium on the campus of Los Alamos High School.
HOW MUCH: $30; $25 seniors; children 5-18 may attend at no charge but need a ticket. Available at CB Fox and Otowi Station Bookstore in Los Alamos, Nicholas Potter Bookseller in Santa Fe or at the door.
