|
|
Article: THE CRITICAL EAR.(Pasatiempo)
- Article from:
- The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM)
- Article date:
- September 4, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 The Santa Fe New Mexican. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: CRAIG SMITH
Books, Bec, and Blackbird
Pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin's Aug. 18 noontime recital for the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival was a blend of exceptional musicality, astute taste, and staggering technique. Of course, whenever Hamelin plays it's an event and not just an occurrence; but even so, playing of a higher order than this is hard to imagine.
He greeted the almost-full house with a transcendent reading of Berg's potent Piano Sonata, op. 1, that was an ideal fusion of piece and performer. Hamelin's spare use of pedal and smooth fingering kept the ever-changing harmonic sequences moving without blurring, and he demonstrated -- ...