Remarkably I had never before seen Hamelin's simple solution to the notoriously dangerous left hands skips - just cross over and play the bass note with the right hand.
I’ve seen it many times! It’s a good solution. You can also do what Mr. Maplemusic does. The “non-cheating” option, just playing everything with the left hand, is the “work harder, not smarter” approach.
A highly satisfying interpretation of a towering masterpiece performed in a beautiful setting by one of the most accomplished pianists of our day. Hats off to the video producer/recording engineer and many thanks to the Tippet Rise Art Center for posting this video. And to those who have found fault with this performance: "Those who can do, those who can't criticize."
We saw Marc perform the Hammerklavier yesterday at the south bank in London. Exceptional performance which was greeted to a standing ovation lasting well over 5 mins. To which the maestro graciously responded with a encore.
Cannot but agree with the rave comments about Hamelin's great performance of this masterpiece. Few pianists today have the skill and interpretative ability to tackle this sonata in a satisfactory manner. And the beautiful surrounding mentioned indeed adds a quality to the performance.
Marc-Andre just keeps getting better as an artist. He's always had infallible fingers much like Pletnev but now his playing is mature and sublime. Same with Pletnev. I met him 20 years ago after a performance and he was warm, kind and genuine. I never forgot that. I love the tempo he takes this piece at. The fugue is extraordinary. Beautifully played throughout. What a masterpiece!
This is one of the conceptually densest pieces of music every created. I've been listening to different versions for at least a decade now and am still trying to understand it. All of the late Beethoven sonatas are hard to understand.
A significant interpretation of the Hammerklavier Sonata has long been available from the German pianist Michael Korstick, who has also produced a complete recording of all 32 Beeethoven sonatas. Korstick's art is highly esteemed, but is unfortunately little known. Like the reference recordings by Pollini and Uchida (and possibly Levit), Korstick's interpretation should definitely be heard. Eine bedeutsame Interpretation der Hammerklaviersonate existiert seit langem von dem deutschen Pianisten Michael Korstick, der auch eine Gesamtaufnahme aller 32 Beeethoven-Sonaten vorgelegt hat. Korsticks Kunst wird hoch geschätzt, ist aber leider wenig bekannt. Wie die Referenzaufnahmen von Pollini und Uchida (und evtl. von Levit) sollte man Korsticks Interpretation unbedingt kennen. .
@@avirupdutt6408 It's written as a jump in the left hand but he plays the opening B-flat with his right, meaning he doesn't have to risk messing up the jump. Given Hamelin's technical gifts, this surprised me.
It’s quite amusing seeing y’all obsessing over one shortcut in such a long and technically difficult sonata that he execute insanely well considering his age
The Adagio is just tough to get through no matter the pianist. Yet one of the greatest slow movements Beethoven ever wrote just too long and repetitive.
I’ve been studying and learning the Adagio for over 20 years and can give a passably credible performance. It is a deeply, powerfully introspective movement that has transcendent qualities that transfigures the performer emotionally, and hopefully the listener. Reaching the last page you feel drained and wrung out, and then finally there’s that resolution of the last three chords like bells chiming, and the promise of an awakening….
