We meet Marc-André Hamelin in Berlin, not far from the Teldec studios where he has just recorded a virtuoso programme consisting of transcriptions of operas by Liszt and Thalberg coupled with the Hexameron variations. His ease and cordiality immediately establish a warm contact, and the conversation goes well in French on subjects of a richness at least in the image of the character. It was not the late hour, it could have lasted until the early morning.
The next day we meet the pianist again to conduct an in-depth interview, focusing on two directions: his learning of the piano and the rare repertoire he defends.
This second part of the interview is devoted to the repertoire.
The musical illustrations accompanying these interviews were recorded at a later meeting in Paris on a 1926 Pleyel concert piano, model A (owned by our friend Christophe Labarde).
The video interview is available on the free application named “Pianists Corner App” available on Apple Store & Google Play that you can install by clicking the links below. You’ll find it in the ACTU page.
Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus by Olivier Messiaen
“At the origins, this work had to accompany the poems of Maurice Toesca, La Nativité, a project for radio. Playing Vingt Regards sur l`Enfant – Jésus, I imagined the words which could follow the music, the voice of the actor reading the poems, the atmosphere of Christmas, people after the 2nd World War listening it to the radio like a ray of hope after so much craziness of destruction.
The violence is present also in this cycle, a terrible and extremely one. Jesus himself was a victim of it. In Regards we find the chaos before the creation, but also the tenderness of the motherhood, the image of a sweet sleep of Child Jesus, the wonderful freedom and joy of birds… And after all, in the end, Messiaen shows us the Christian window for peace and freedom, which is love.”
Anca Elena.
Anca Elena and Pianists Corner offer you a rendezvous every two weeks. Each rendezvous will contain one Regard. The first episode will be released first week of December.
#14 – Regard des Anges
“Scintillements, percussions; souffle puissant dans d’immenses trombones; tes serviteurs sont des flammes de feu … puis le chant des oiseaux qui avalent du bleu – et la stupeur des anges s’agrandit: car ce n’est pas à eux mais à la race humaine que Dieu s’est uni …“
“Sparkling, beating; a powerful blast from immense trombones; Your servants are flames of fire – then the song of birds who feast upon blue – and the amazement of the angels grows – for it is not to them but to the human race that God is united …“
Olivier Messiaen.
“If you imagine that angels are spiritual, windy and soft creatures, you must forget about it!
Messiaen creates shocking spiritual beings which come to awake us with their huge wings in the strident sound of the beginning and their voices of the trombones. The mathematical thinking (of canons) makes them close to sf characters, over human sensitivity. What can be more shocking than the superposition of a canon on Indian decî-tâlas and an augmented fourth, known as the interval of Devil in the Middle Age, with the free birds’s singing, full of neumas and Greek rhythms? This work is stupefying by its so many repetitions (are they boring?), by the loud singing of birds, so close to our ears. They are really shouting! Not only us, but the angels themselves are stupefied, because finally God choose to unify with humans. This is unfair, because their power, science, amazing grace are ignored.”
Youl Sun won the First Prize at the Korea Chopin Competition and Korea Liszt Competition in 2013 and was awarded the First Prize and special Polonaise Award at the Asia-Pacific International Chopin Competition
See on the iPhone & android APP
The following links work when you are on your smartphone, and the application Pianists Corner App need to be started.
A dedicated and disciplined young musician, Michael has gone on to win numerous piano competitions, including 2022 Long-Thibaud International Piano Competition, third place and orchestra prize, 2021 American Pianists Association finalist award; winner 2019 Juilliard Gina Bachauer Competition; first prize 2018 New York International Piano Competition chamber ensemble; first prizes in both soloist and concerto categories at the 33 rd Ithaca College of Music Piano Competition; Grand Prize at the LISMA Foundation 9th International Music Competition; and first place in the 2011 Mary Smart International Concerto Competition. Michael also received a four year scholarship from the Chopin Foundation of the United States.
See on the iPhone & android APP
The following links work when you are on your smartphone, and the application Pianists Corner App need to be started.
