Hamelin wrote this about the piece: “Sometime in the 1950s there appeared on the Lumen label an extended play 45-rpm record called Mr. Nobody Plays Trenet. It contained unusually creative and entertaining piano settings of six songs by the French singer-songwriter Charles Trenet (1913-2001). The identity of ‘Mr. Nobody’ was kept secret until a few years ago, when it was revealed to be Alexis Weissenberg. It is easy to see why Weissenberg chose to adopt a pseudonym for this recording. At that time a serious classical pianist dabbling in such trivialities as popular song would most likely have been compromising his own career. (How times have changed. This kind of thing is welcomed, even encouraged, by record companies now.)”
Pour moi, il ne fait aucun doute qu'il est le plus grand pianiste de sa génération. Pour avoir à de nombreuses reprises préparé pour lui des pianos pour des récitals qu'il venait donner à la Place des Arts, je restais chaque fois fasciné par son style, sa virtuosité, sa richesse de touches, sa connaissance approfondie des partitions et surtout, par sa simplicité et sa franchise. Quand je lui demandais comment il trouvait le piano, il me donnait toujours une note sur cent. C'était très amusant. Je n'ai jamais eu en bas de 90%. Quand il n'amait pas un piano, il répondait que l'instrument n'était pas mieux que la dernière fois qu'il était venu.
Under his touch, this music is shimmering and joyful. Brings me to tears each time. (It was played a bit faster than usual, I think) but still, OMG! Pass the Kleenex...
So many times I have listened to this, never fails to touch my heart. In Marc André Hamelin's playing, I always hear the same quality as in that of Bill Evans, though through totally different genres. They both make music shimmer. Surely that beauty can only be manifested through one's soul.
Hamelin’s repertoire is insane. It just goes to show what perfect technique (or as close to it as any human has managed) can allow you to accomplish in one lifetime.
I can think of no-one better currently performing. Extraordinary technique, coupled with great emotion and understanding of the music. You can almost taste Paris. Sublime musicianship.
Perhaps it's Hamelin's influence that I hear in your composition "Sentimental Song", Mr. Haviland! Definitely has a Hamelinesque vibe to it. It's lovely, BTW!
Today we see a vintage video of Rubinstein playing "La Campanella" and we think -Oh, I wish I was born in that time to listen to that... I think that in future times, there will be people thinking the same about Hamelin. Well, I don't think it, it's just for sure. Greetings :)
I just watched Hayato Sumino's concert yesterday, and I never heard this piece before until his performance, and I thought this piece was amazing, so I searched it up on RU-vid.
i listen to an interview by hamelin.. he did transcribe this by ear BUT with the help of a software called AMAZING SLOW DOWNER.. it can slow music down until about 20% without changing the pitch... it's avail on isohunt...
The title, I believe, should be Hamelin plays Trénet (Arranged by Weissenberg) or Hamelin plays Trénet/Weissenberg - En Avril à Paris. Great piece, great arrangement, great playing.
In fact, Hamelin says somewhere that these pieces by Alexis Weissenberg were the most challeging for him to learn. Perhaps because he transcribed them himself, by ear.
Bientôt le printemps et aujhourd'hui, c'est vraiment avril..... Quand Trenet remontait d'Antibes ou d'Aix en Provence pour voir le printemps de Paris... La Varenne, Quai Winston Churchill.... Un bien bel endroit....
i think this is one is a bit faster than his other recordings, which unfortunately not as enjoyable as the others.. seems like he already wanted to go home..
