The sublime and the rambunctious: Marc-André Hamelin in Sydney recital

By Zoltán Szabó, 16 September 2025

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“seldom can one hear such demanding works in such a polished performance”

Reviewed at City Recital Hall, Sydney on 15 September 2025

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 29 in B flat major "Hammerklavier", Op.106

Medtner, Improvisation in B flat major, Op.31 no.1

Medtner, Forgotten Melodies, Op.38 no. 3: Danza festiva

Rachmaninov, Étude-tableau in E flat minor, Op.39 no.5

Rachmaninov, Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, Op.36

Debussy, Images, Set 1 no. 1: Reflets dans l'eau, for piano

Gnattali, Negaceando

Marc-André Hamelin, Piano

Amy Beach’s Gaelic returns to Philadelphia after 100-year absence

Cameron Kelsall, 12th March

Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s latest concert also features Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto with Marc-André Hamelin.

****1

Memory and timelessness: Marc-André Hamelin’s poetic piano wizardry

Michelle Assay, 23rd February

Canadian superstar pianist Marc-André Hamelin amazes and moves while hardly breaking sweat in recital at London's Southbank Centre.

*****

Takács Quartet explores folk-inflected repertoire in Cleveland

Sam Jacobson, 23rd January

At the Cleveland Chamber Music Society, the Takács Quartet collaborates with Marc-André Hamelin in works by Price and Dvořák.

***11

Hamelin’s bracing Ives anchors memorable Cleveland recital

Sam Jacobson, 19th November

Marc-André Hamelin opens his recital with the uncompromising demands of Ives’ Concord Sonata, followed by suites of Schumann and Ravel.

****1

Toronto Symphony burns down the barn with Messiaen's Turangalîla

Gianmarco Segato, 4th May

Gustavo Gimeno, Marc-André Hamelin and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra raise the roof with Messiaen’s epic – and eclectic – Turangalîla-Symphonie.

****1

Music on the edge: Marc-André Hamelin plays the Musikverein

Chanda VanderHart, 19th October

In the Brahms Saal, Marc-André Hamelin juxtaposes three Russian composers with Schubert’s long misunderstood final piano sonata.

****1

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Zoltán Szabó

Zoltán Szabó is a cellist and musicologist. Having migrated from his native Hungary to Australia in 1985, he worked with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney until 1991, when he became Principal Cello with Opera Australia. In 2017, he was awarded with a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD). Currently, he is teaching music history and musicology at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

From the sublime to the rambunctious: Marc-André Hamelin in Sydney recital