Marc André Hamelin

Composer/Pianist Marc-André Hamelin’s unique blend of musicianship and virtuosity brings forth interpretations remarkable for their freedom, originality, and prodigious mastery of the piano’s resources.  Hamelin is recognized worldwide for the coloristic poetry and technical brilliance of his performances of the classic repertoire, as well as for his bold exploration of unfamiliar pianistic terrain.

An acclaimed recitalist and soloist, Hamelin has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, the Montreal Symphony, the London Philharmonic, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and others, and has appeared in concert at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, at London’s Wigmore Hall and Royal Albert Hall, and throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and the Far East.

An exclusive Hyperion Records artist, Hamelin’s legendary discography numbers more than sixty CDs and includes concerti and works for solo piano by composers such as Alkan, Busoni, Godowsky, and Medtner, as well as brilliantly received performances of Brahms, Chopin, Haydn, Liszt, and Schumann.  The companion disc to his 12 Études in All the Minor Keys (Hyperion CD A67789), which includes other works, was released in September 2010.

Although primarily a performer, Hamelin has composed music throughout his career.  In addition to 12 Études in All the Minor Keys, Con intimissimo sentimento, and Theme and Variations (Cathy’s Variations), Hamelin has transcribed Zequinha de Abreu's Tico-Tico, No Fubá, and composed three pieces for player-piano, among other works.

The recipient of a lifetime achievement prize by the German Record Critic’s Association (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik), Hamelin is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Chevalier de l’Ordre du Québec, and a member of the Royal Society of Canada.  Hamelin’s principal teachers included his father, Gilles Hamelin; Yvonne Hubert, Harvey Wedeen, and Russell Sherman. A native of Montreal, Marc-André Hamelin currently resides in Boston.