After recording compositions by Stephen Hough, Hyperion offers Marc-André Hamelin a generous anthology. The pianist likes forms: variations, suite in the old style, varied pavane, chaconne, toccata, what’s more The armed man, one of the favorite themes of the Renaissance. In his Variations on a theme by Paganini (24e Caprice, of course), he attacks without exposing the theme and the variations are concise. He ends with a tribute to Rachmaninoff and La Campanella. Jazz is never far away. My Feelings About Chocolate is minimalist in the true sense of the term: the instructions evoke Satie and Feldman. The works highlight the singularities of Quebecois art, like the digital effervescence of the “Courante” in the sequel, which does not prevent the striking atmospheric pieces (the “calassismo” of the barcarolle ), nor the numerous musical references (Varied Pavane), nor the quick wit (Diabellic variation). We hope one day to hear the wonderful Meditation on Laura (the theme music of the film Laura) as a concert encore.
To watch on video