Album insights
The performances on this CD were recorded during the "Virtuoso Romantics," a series of concerts celebrating the golden age of piano music. This concept was conceived by Ates Orga, with Marc-André Hamelin's rendition taking place in June 1994 at the Wigmore Hall in London. The concerts were held under the auspices of the Canadian High Commission and the Délégation Générale du Québec.
Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, transcribed by Charles-Valentin Alkan, showcases a seismic cadenza replacing Beethoven's original, described as extraordinarily powerful. Alkan's rendition bears his unique imprint, displaying a fusion of German and French elements, unmistakably his creation. It is not merely an elongated cadenza but a symphonic construction with thematic expansion projecting a theatrical continuum of extended tonal relationships. The effect of the music soaring to fortissimo in C major presents an awe-inspiring transformation of incredible audacity.
Fryderyk Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1, transcribed by Mily Alexeiwitsch Balakirev, unfolds a lyrical journey encapsulated in the romantic and melancholic Romanza. Balakirev's affection for Chopin's music is evident in his various adaptations and orchestrations, including the dreamy solo transcription of the slow movement. Chopin's composition embodies lyricism, translating ordinary sentiments into a poetic language deeply influenced by memories and contemplation, as expressed in a letter to his friend Titus Woyciechowski.
Charles-Valentin Alkan's Three Grandes Études present a diverse palette of sounds and thematic elements, showcasing a cosmic blend of intricate layers and extreme melodic dialogues. Despite being piano-centric compositions, Alkan's music exudes an orchestral quality with striking dichotomies and a merging of varied musical spheres, reminiscent of Mahlerian grandeur.
Ferruccio Busoni, born in Italy, epitomized the essence of a perfect musician deeply rooted in Teutonic traditions, particularly in Bach and Beethoven. Celebrated for monumental and transcendent works, Busoni's life epitomized the spirit of a self-taught artist navigating various musical styles. His focus on transcriptions as a way to understand composition led him to revere figures like Bach and Mozart as silent role models in musical creation.
Nikolai Medtner's festive Danza, elegantly performed by Marc-André Hamelin, serves as a charming flourish from a bygone era. Medtner's delightful composition, captured multiple times on piano rolls and recordings, showcases a joyful resonance from a different musical epoch.