Here's the pure genius of Hamelin, creating a variation of a variation, creating his own take on something that was already a masterpiece by Rachmaninov, adding his own spice and music understanding. Let alone being able to literally play two different pieces, one on each hand at times, sometimes intertwined, sometimes subtly masked. Once again he's taken us into is own piano universe. He is showing us is abilities as a piano virtuoso, but most importantly, his understanding of everything he knows, FROM the technique of passed virtuosi, THROUGH the music writing of the great composers, and TO the crafting of his own piano performance which is nothing short of miraculous.
you all prolly dont care but does someone know of a tool to get back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost the account password. I would love any assistance you can give me!
@Jabari Jabari thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
Honestly, I am not sure what impresses me more....his humility, his glass-wing like translations, OR his interviews (He always has me half-off my seat!!! He just GETS IT! What a performer and one that will go down forever for the pure transparency and clarity he exemplifies.) 5:43 Always gets me smiling :P
Hamelin is pure piano genius !!! He totally owns the music AND the piano. He is not intimidated by the composer or the instrument. He expands the music and stretches the piano's ability to play that music. Virtuoso is too weak a title for him. I read fan's comments who listen to Keith Jarrett's playing and call him God. Obviously, they have never heard Marc-Andre Hamelin, because Keith is but a mere piano disciple compared to Hamelin's overwhelming pianistic deity. Hamelin is so creative, inventive and masterful, that even professional pianists struggle with their ability to listen to his playing, let alone imitate it. The one hundred thousand plus people who have listened to this video need to realize that of the seven billion humans on earth, only they are among the small number who have listened to the world's most incredible living pianist.
@@Medtszkowski Huang is ok but if you're talking about divina fanatic that's an obviously fake video with special recording techniques But not in top twenty of best pianists Huang etc have simple warhorse pieces. Not eclectic like hamelin. Huang could never play what hamelin can. Not even compose like hamelin
So many great jokes for the informed listener in this piece. If you look at the score, the thirteenth variation (the Rachmaninoff parody) is labelled "Var. 18"... and then 18 is crossed out and 13 is written instead. Not only that, but he inverts the melody Rachmaninoff used for his eighteenth variation, parodying the fact that Rachmaninoff inverted Paganini's theme to come up with his own variation. The most subtle joke, though, was something a professor of mine had to point out to me. Yes, La campanella shows up at 8:48... but who wrote the original tune that Liszt transcribed? None other than Paganini, of course. So the final variation isn't a variation on a theme of Paganini... it's a variation on *two* themes by Paganini.
Eugene Chan there's a joke in the description. If you look closely it says "Variations on a Theme" by Paganini instead of "Variations on a Theme by Paganini".
I was at a Q&A that he gave the UBC piano students, so I can confirm that his music often features distillations of his wit much more concentrated than his everyday speech. That, and I've never seen so many jokes and so esoteric packed into a piece roughly 10 minutes long. This work is exceptional by all metrics. So he's definitely worth listening to in English (or French - but I've never listened to anything he said in French) but don't expect it to be like this highly prepared composition.
If there is such a thing as the most difficult piano piece ever, this could quite possibly be it. And it's a marvel of cheeky invention, turning Paganini's theme this way and that. The juxtapositions with Beethoven 109 and Capnanella are genius, yet sound so natural that you wonder why nobody has thought of it before. Hamelin is an undisputed master of this kind of thing.
A great virtuosic work in the hands of a great virtuoso! I do wish we could see the hands clearly 100% of the time, though. Since this is an exciting virtuosic work, I think that will be worth it! BTW, I couldn't help noticing that the TH-cam description wrote 'Here is Paganini's "Variations on a Theme“'...
I've been following Hamelin since his first Alkan recording in 1993. His breathtaking musicianship, stamina, versitility, and superhuman attention to detail leave me with just one question: Why doesn't he clip his fingernails? See esp 4:03-4:33. ...I suppose if he didn't have one tiny flaw we'd be tempted to fall down and worship him! But seriously. Thank you, Marc-André, for rejuvenating the teen-aged passion for this music, in the heart of this jaded Classical collector. My life is richer for it.
He could also have wider fingernails than normal. I have really wide thumb fingernails which almost reach the sides of my finger and always clack the keys even if I cut them :(
После МАРКА Андре невозможно слушать ни одного пианиста, это ЧУДО, божественное, сказочное перевоплошение, это реальный ПАГАНИНИ, его таинственное мироздание, духовный мир !!!!!
This set of variations is absolutely humorous. There are homages of rachmaninoff, brahms, and the GREAT BEETHOVEN. Not to mention that the number of variations is 14(the same as a book of brahms's set), so the structure itself is a reference of a similar(but different) piece!
Not humorous, absolutely humorous. I had to turn it off, because I was afraid I was going to be self-asphyxiated through laughter. And the coincidence of the number 14 was so brilliant i had a minor stroke.
*Emperor Joseph II* : "There are simply too many notes, Mozart. Just cut a few and it'll be perfect." *Mozart* : "Which few did you have in mind, m a j e s t y ?"
Ok. Let's see the music as intended. A pastiche, yes. But really it's just light hearted and obviously enormous fun to play. It's worthy of analysis I suppose, but it's designed to entertain, which it does in buckets. Over analysing it would seem to miss the point.
It sounds that way, but somewhat more "out". It's quite impressing to have written and performed a piece, that makes Lotuslawski seem like a safe-player:-)
Incredibile virtuosismo, sicuramente a me come composizione non piace però scritta su quelle del passato così tante che ce ne sono state è stato ingegnoso e bravissimo con uno stile del virtuosismo moderno che gli deriva dallo studio di molti pezzi degli autori più difficili🎉
JOHN!!! It's been so long! Please write c/o Colbert Artists - I'd love to be in touch again! Very best, Marc colbertartists.com/artists/marc-andre-hamelin/
It's Paganini + Paganini, actually. La campanella theme has its origin in rondo from Paganini's second violin concerto, and was then used by Liszt in his etude
Il faut comprendre que c'est une déconstruction de la musique de Paganini, musique qui était déjà considérée du "show-off" à l'époque. C'est moderne , c'est frais et c'est un reflet de notre époque où tout part en couilles, c'est une interprétation des "Invasions Barbares" version années 2000. Il faut arrêter de s'interroger sur le sexe des anges alors que les Ottomans sont à la porte de Constantinople, et puis non, c'est trop tard.
Sur une note plus jazzé, je vous invite à écouter "A. Rosenblatt. Paganini Variations. Alexander Rosenblatt (piano)". C'est très différent mais c'est aussi beau, plus joyeux peut-être.
Don't depend even on musicologists to pull that off. Hamelin sometimes references the most random, obscure stuff which doesn't always fall within the classical sphere. Bogdan Dulu (who was doing his doctorate on Hamelin's etudes at the time Hamelin gave this concert on the same campus) dug up the reference in the g minor etude, which if I remember correctly was like some TV music from decades ago or at least something not classical. He has probably buried some references so sneakily most pianists wouldn't pick them up, but the references I did catch are: 1:15 or 1:42 sound like they might have come from the same source as the g minor etude 3:11 Chopin Barcarolle cameo (most people don't notice this one) 3:51 Beethoven 109, one of variations from 3rd movement 5:38 Beethoven symphony 5 7:09 18th variation from Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on Paganini's Theme 8:48 La Campanella
Some of these are variations on existing vars by Rachmaninov and Brahms on the original theme by Paganini. Others are his own vars. And there's the occasional bit from a totally different piece - e.g Beethovens 5th!
You should see him play Brahms Pag. variations: they are a bit too easy for him so he plays them with his left hand and juggles 10 trumpets with his right.
Endless talent of a man of great wit and sensitivity.
Here's the pure genius of Hamelin, creating a variation of a variation, creating his own take on something that was already a masterpiece by Rachmaninov, adding his own spice and music understanding. Let alone being able to literally play two different pieces, one on each hand at times, sometimes intertwined, sometimes subtly masked. Once again he's taken us into is own piano universe. He is showing us is abilities as a piano virtuoso, but most importantly, his understanding of everything he knows, FROM the technique of passed virtuosi, THROUGH the music writing of the great composers, and TO the crafting of his own piano performance which is nothing short of miraculous.
you all prolly dont care but does someone know of a tool to get back into an Instagram account??
I was dumb lost the account password. I would love any assistance you can give me!
@Jabari Jabari thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
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Why would anyone spend the time and trouble to learn and play such disharmonious music?
I think Marc-André is simply blessed by God!
God Sakes! What kind of sorcery is this????? Does he even know what he does is not even humanly possible???
That's exactly what I said to him after a recital that I attended a few years ago in Boston. He was very modest, as usual.
Honestly, I am not sure what impresses me more....his humility, his glass-wing like translations, OR his interviews (He always has me half-off my seat!!! He just GETS IT! What a performer and one that will go down forever for the pure transparency and clarity he exemplifies.) 5:43 Always gets me smiling :P
His facial expression at 9:02
Love it ! He such a genius 🤩
unbelievable virtuosity comes along with an amazing pianism and mastery.
The record sound Is fantastic!
Brilliant! Hamelin’s playing never ceases to amaze me.
Variation at 5:10 is the funniest variation I've ever heard
Very interesting Piece. Hamelin is Genius!
Hamelin is pure piano genius !!! He totally owns the music AND the piano. He is not intimidated by the composer or the instrument. He expands the music and stretches the piano's ability to play that music. Virtuoso is too weak a title for him. I read fan's comments who listen to Keith Jarrett's playing and call him God. Obviously, they have never heard Marc-Andre Hamelin, because Keith is but a mere piano disciple compared to Hamelin's overwhelming pianistic deity. Hamelin is so
creative, inventive and masterful, that even professional pianists struggle with their ability to listen to his playing, let alone imitate it. The one hundred thousand plus people who have listened to this video need to realize that of the seven billion humans on earth, only they are among the small number who have listened to the world's most incredible living pianist.
So glad I found this. Pure genius
Fantastic imagination in these variations! Loved the La Campanella quote near the end. 😎
Wow, just saw his performance of this piece in Vienna tonight, it was absolutely breathtaking!
Again, brilliant ! ! !
Absolute delight ! Brilliant !
I love how the video description-"Here is Paganini's 'Variations on a Theme'."-implies that this was written by Paganini.
It's impressive how Hamelin is so much above every other piano virtuoso... He's a super-virtuoso!
So true, only a super virtuoso could play this piece.
Except above Yi Chung huang
@@Medtszkowskiway above him
@@ciararespect4296 listen again to his Spanish fantasy
@@Medtszkowski
Huang is ok but if you're talking about divina fanatic that's an obviously fake video with special recording techniques
But not in top twenty of best pianists
Huang etc have simple warhorse pieces. Not eclectic like hamelin. Huang could never play what hamelin can. Not even compose like hamelin
at 5:41, how did Beethoven's Fifth find its way there? :D
What a gorgeous hall
the guys got hands... and GUTS... I'm SURE if he wasn't such an exceptional concert pianist and in extreme demand... He'd be ONE HECK of a teacher!
me encanta este pianista
So many great jokes for the informed listener in this piece. If you look at the score, the thirteenth variation (the Rachmaninoff parody) is labelled "Var. 18"... and then 18 is crossed out and 13 is written instead. Not only that, but he inverts the melody Rachmaninoff used for his eighteenth variation, parodying the fact that Rachmaninoff inverted Paganini's theme to come up with his own variation.
The most subtle joke, though, was something a professor of mine had to point out to me. Yes, La campanella shows up at 8:48... but who wrote the original tune that Liszt transcribed? None other than Paganini, of course. So the final variation isn't a variation on a theme of Paganini... it's a variation on *two* themes by Paganini.
Eugene Chan there's a joke in the description. If you look closely it says "Variations on a Theme" by Paganini instead of "Variations on a Theme by Paganini".
Ha !
@@arandomperson274 It's just a description from the people who run the channel, not Hamelin himself. It's not a joke.
Where do you get the score for this?
@@mochdrew3364 It's published by Edition Peters.
8:53 That moment when you realize this melody goes with that one.
What a great moment
I was in the live audience for this performance. I remember this being one of the good laughs
I wonder if he is as funny to talk to as he is with his music. I simply could not stop listening to this.
Not necessarily funny, but interesting. And yes, he can be funny.
I was at a Q&A that he gave the UBC piano students, so I can confirm that his music often features distillations of his wit much more concentrated than his everyday speech. That, and I've never seen so many jokes and so esoteric packed into a piece roughly 10 minutes long. This work is exceptional by all metrics. So he's definitely worth listening to in English (or French - but I've never listened to anything he said in French) but don't expect it to be like this highly prepared composition.
If there is such a thing as the most difficult piano piece ever, this could quite possibly be it. And it's a marvel of cheeky invention, turning Paganini's theme this way and that. The juxtapositions with Beethoven 109 and Capnanella are genius, yet sound so natural that you wonder why nobody has thought of it before. Hamelin is an undisputed master of this kind of thing.
He also made a nice parody of the famous 18th variation and hid some sneakier cheeky references such as to the Chopin Barcarolle
Yes, he has and displays virtuosity - I doubt if few pianists could play it as well as him.
5:00 from Bartok Night Music
A great virtuosic work in the hands of a great virtuoso! I do wish we could see the hands clearly 100% of the time, though. Since this is an exciting virtuosic work, I think that will be worth it!
BTW, I couldn't help noticing that the TH-cam description wrote 'Here is Paganini's "Variations on a Theme“'...
This is really something special.
Incredible.. it sent shivers down my spine😳
the Beethoven is hilarious. Love his facial expression at 5:49.
i think he made that face because on one of his other premormances the audience clapped at 4:49
+charles koder *5:49
Yes, I nearly died laughing. Tears came to my eyes, and I could hardly breathe for 15 minutes.
The sudden change to a minor is the genius punchline
I've been following Hamelin since his first Alkan recording in 1993. His breathtaking musicianship, stamina, versitility, and superhuman attention to detail leave me with just one question: Why doesn't he clip his fingernails? See esp 4:03-4:33. ...I suppose if he didn't have one tiny flaw we'd be tempted to fall down and worship him!
But seriously. Thank you, Marc-André, for rejuvenating the teen-aged passion for this music, in the heart of this jaded Classical collector. My life is richer for it.
He could also have wider fingernails than normal. I have really wide thumb fingernails which almost reach the sides of my finger and always clack the keys even if I cut them :(
Super pianist in the world!!!!
Hearing this live is so much more exciting, but a video recordings have its own merits I guess.
Holy crap hi
Holy crap hi
Holy crap hi
Holy crap hi
Holy crap hi
My favorite is at 3:50 where it quotes Beethoven Op. 109 hahaha
I always imagine roaring, thundering, neverending applause after that 5:44 section. Funny just how pissed he would be :)))
🎹🇮🇷🖐️🥇 Liszt 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻
5:10 MY FAVORITE VARIATION
That variation was great. Like a history book. :))
+ehsan tamrabadi Can you list all of the pieces? I only got a few of them hidden in that variation.
@@m.a.3322 which ones you got? Oh im 4 years late lmao
@@alejosierra3471 lol
Hamelin again + Composer-Pianist. "Variations on a Theme by Paganini". VERY GOOD.
После МАРКА Андре невозможно
слушать ни одного пианиста, это
ЧУДО, божественное, сказочное перевоплошение, это реальный
ПАГАНИНИ, его таинственное
мироздание, духовный мир !!!!!
Согласовано!
Any thumbs down ratings for this are out of sheer jealousy.
No, the variations just arent very good
@@frederickbulsara8141 Well they might not sound good to many people but they are very hard and pretty funny lol
Un génie...totalement génial...
This set of variations is absolutely humorous. There are homages of rachmaninoff, brahms, and the GREAT BEETHOVEN. Not to mention that the number of variations is 14(the same as a book of brahms's set), so the structure itself is a reference of a similar(but different) piece!
And a little liszt too
임희준 And Chopin's Barcarolle at 3:10
+Lightning yes !!!!!
Not humorous, absolutely humorous. I had to turn it off, because I was afraid I was going to be self-asphyxiated through laughter. And the coincidence of the number 14 was so brilliant i had a minor stroke.
*Emperor Joseph II* : "There are simply too many notes, Mozart. Just cut a few and it'll be perfect."
*Mozart* : "Which few did you have in mind, m a j e s t y ?"
Well, there you have it! It's a good effort and there are too many notes. (Leaves).
you make me think if a line in Mozart le opera rock,that line is "too many notes！”in french
GENIOUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are simply a musical god.
Knocked it out of the park!
I don't know why, but Rzewski Variations always come to mind when I hear this.
me too! it sounds kind of similar to people united :)
3:10 Chopin's Barcarolle ? :)
Already...it looks like mine.....
Oh my goodness! I never put that together! You’re right.
I’ve would never put it together!! To me, this variation sounds a lot like the first cadenza of Prokofiev’s piano concerto no. 2
@@joaopedrolessa2242 That's true. I was thinking about the end of the Barcarolle
Wow!
Only Hamelin can do this.
Chapeau Monsieur Hamelin ! Je vous aime !
Te estuve buscando ,eres un htan pianista. 🥇🎶🎶🎶🎶🎹🇮🇷 🖐️😃
Ok. Let's see the music as intended. A pastiche, yes. But really it's just light hearted and obviously enormous fun to play. It's worthy of analysis I suppose, but it's designed to entertain, which it does in buckets. Over analysing it would seem to miss the point.
From approximately 8:40 onwards: I thought "OMG, really ???!" This is amazing!!
Then we were at the same concert! Howdy! 't was great indeed.
Gran pianista. Hamelinn
7:15 is a variation on a Rachmaninov variation of Pag's theme!
It sounds that way, but somewhat more "out". It's quite impressing to have written and performed a piece, that makes Lotuslawski seem like a safe-player:-)
8:48 パガニーニ(24カプリス)とリスト(カンパネラ)が融合した時、ホント凄いなと思った。
それな
天才すぎ
I believe the video description should read "Hamelin's Variations on a Theme by Paganini" instead of Paganini's Variations on a theme.
dam!!!! brilliant
Who's arrangement is this ? Marc-André Hamelin's ? I love it !
je penses que cette iinterprétation est superbe bravo Marc-andré
This is AMAZING!
Incredibile virtuosismo, sicuramente a me come composizione non piace però scritta su quelle del passato così tante che ce ne sono state è stato ingegnoso e bravissimo con uno stile del virtuosismo moderno che gli deriva dallo studio di molti pezzi degli autori più difficili🎉
great stuff marco keep up the pace jwk
JOHN!!! It's been so long! Please write c/o Colbert Artists - I'd love to be in touch again! Very best, Marc colbertartists.com/artists/marc-andre-hamelin/
7:46 what a chord
yea its nuts haha
@@mmelloe Did you just reply to yourself
@discordant harmony
i think someone replied to me then deleted their comment
@@discordant8543 did you just reply to a 2 year old comment
U don't have to hide it, I know the feeling
I think this theme of Paganini is the most used theme for variations (Schumann, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Hamelin, etc.)
Liszt
Lutosławski
And pulling a Volodos in the coda. Wonderful! :D
Seriously impressive. I am confounded as to how he moves so quickly around the keys.
(Screw Lady Gaga adverts.)
Now where have i heard that melody before...?
A Genius !
Dé lo más dífiiil. Paganini
Blessed by FSM of course. No one would actually practice to become this good.
what is FSM
The Flying Spaghetti Monster. A deity of Pastafarianism.
@@daniel_ryan thank you for explaining
If you've not heard him perform Busoni's Concerto in C Major....you have to. Do not argue, do not hesitate. Go.
8:35
こっからパガニーニが生きてる頃に聞かせてほしかったわ。
Pretty sure it's Hamelin's "Variations on a Theme by Paganini" (the theme was by Paganini) and not Paganini's "Variations on a Theme"
as much as i love atonal music....
This guy is freaking amazing. I think he must have sold his soul to the devil to play like this.
unlike liszt and paganini, he sold other people's souls too
Genious
Thanks for your comment! 😊
4:00 is one of the variations from beethoven's sonata 30 op.109, totally the same.
8:48 just wow perfect
paganini + liszt
It's Paganini + Paganini, actually. La campanella theme has its origin in rondo from Paganini's second violin concerto, and was then used by Liszt in his etude
Il faut comprendre que c'est une déconstruction de la musique de Paganini, musique qui était déjà considérée du "show-off" à l'époque. C'est moderne , c'est frais et c'est un reflet de notre époque où tout part en couilles, c'est une interprétation des "Invasions Barbares" version années 2000. Il faut arrêter de s'interroger sur le sexe des anges alors que les Ottomans sont à la porte de Constantinople, et puis non, c'est trop tard.
Sur une note plus jazzé, je vous invite à écouter "A. Rosenblatt. Paganini Variations. Alexander Rosenblatt (piano)". C'est très différent mais c'est aussi beau, plus joyeux peut-être.
Geniale!!!
참 좋은시간,즐거움이 됩니다
감사합니다. 샬 롬
Is anyone knowledgable enough to list (and timestamp) all the pieces this work draw upon?
That falls a little bit outside our ken...
Don't depend even on musicologists to pull that off. Hamelin sometimes references the most random, obscure stuff which doesn't always fall within the classical sphere. Bogdan Dulu (who was doing his doctorate on Hamelin's etudes at the time Hamelin gave this concert on the same campus) dug up the reference in the g minor etude, which if I remember correctly was like some TV music from decades ago or at least something not classical.
He has probably buried some references so sneakily most pianists wouldn't pick them up, but the references I did catch are:
1:15 or 1:42 sound like they might have come from the same source as the g minor etude
3:11 Chopin Barcarolle cameo (most people don't notice this one)
3:51 Beethoven 109, one of variations from 3rd movement
5:38 Beethoven symphony 5
7:09 18th variation from Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on Paganini's Theme
8:48 La Campanella
@@tabby7189W reply
"Here is Paganini's 'Variations on a Theme'"
3:11 rach etude tableau 39 6 ♥️♥️
Huh? I heard Chopin Barcarolle there
@@stefanbernhard2710 🤷🏼🤷🏼 it’s possible
1:15 sounds like Hindemit
What piano is that? Incredibly powerful
It is a regular piano with a powerful new effect package installed, which is called M-A-H!
Looks like it’s a Steinway D.
woooh, its only I can say
Tutto un nuovo genere di musica classica. Può piacere o no, ma merita senz'altro.
8:50 he combined it with la campanella and it actually worked...
obviously, la Campanella is a variation on theme by Paganini that Liszt transcribed as a study!
20-----------23 🇮🇷🎹
Variation on a theme on Paganini, definitively... but who is the composer here, Rachmaninov? Brahms and Schumann wrote also. Tremendous playing here
Hamelin is the composer!
Thanks, this is why i couldn't see another name. Really impressive recreation of that variations. Blowed me...
markusmala He rewrites it and it is owned by himself to perform
markusmala don't forget Lutoslawski!
Some of these are variations on existing vars by Rachmaninov and Brahms on the original theme by Paganini. Others are his own vars. And there's the occasional bit from a totally different piece - e.g Beethovens 5th!
After seeing this, I don't wanna play piano anymore!
ok mr youtube autoplay algorithm you just dont want me to do homework do ya
You should do your homework, though.
Lol!
You should see him play Brahms Pag. variations: they are a bit too easy for him so he plays them with his left hand and juggles 10 trumpets with his right.
is it the brahms piece (much to fast) or a transcription of these composers Hamelin played so well (Leopold Godowsky, .... or he self)???
Did he quote Kapustin?
Yes! is the answer to 'did he quote Composer X' for every Composer.