Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

September 5, 1961 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Marc-André Hamelin is a Canadian classical pianist and composer known for his virtuosic performances and recordings of both standard repertoire and lesser-known works. He was born on September 5, 1961, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a family of musicians. His father was a pharmacist and amateur pianist, while his mother was a professional pianist and piano teacher. Hamelin began playing the piano at the age of five and showed exceptional talent from an early age. He studied with Yvonne Hubert at the École Vincent-d'Indy in Montreal and later with Russell Sherman at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He also received guidance from pianist and composer George Crumb. Hamelin's career as a concert pianist began in the 1980s, and he quickly gained a reputation as a formidable performer with a wide-ranging repertoire. He made his debut with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 1984, playing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3, and has since performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. One of Hamelin's most notable performances was his 1994 debut at the Proms in London, where he played Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor to critical acclaim. He has also performed at major music festivals around the world, including the Salzburg Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York. In addition to his performances as a soloist, Hamelin is also an accomplished chamber musician. He has collaborated with many of the world's leading musicians, including violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and pianist Emanuel Ax. He is a member of the Leopold String Trio and has recorded chamber music by composers such as Brahms, Dvorak, and Shostakovich. Hamelin is also a prolific recording artist, with over 70 albums to his name. He has recorded the complete piano works of many composers, including Alkan, Godowsky, and Medtner, as well as works by Liszt, Chopin, and Beethoven. His recordings have won numerous awards, including ten Grammy nominations and three Gramophone Awards. In addition to his career as a performer, Hamelin is also a composer. He has written works for solo piano, chamber ensembles, and orchestra, and his compositions have been performed by many leading musicians. His music is characterized by its virtuosity and its incorporation of elements from a wide range of musical styles and traditions. Hamelin has received many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1985, he won the prestigious Carnegie Hall International Competition for American Music, and in 1989 he was awarded the Virginia Parker Prize by the Canada Council for the Arts. He has also been awarded the Order of Canada, the highest civilian honor in Canada, and the Prix Opus, the highest honor for classical music in Quebec. Despite his many accomplishments, Hamelin remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He continues to perform and record extensively, and his passion for music is evident in every note he plays. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of his generation, and his contributions to the world of classical music will be remembered for generations to come.

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