From the sublime to the rambunctious: Marc-André Hamelin in Sydney recital
By Zoltán Szabó
Canadian Marc-André Hamelin stands out from his generation, as both a highly accomplished pianist and composer and, remarkably, an artist, who boldly promotes not only the standard repertoire but also compositions of lesser-known composers, often from the last century or so. He is comparable in the versatility of his artistic interests, instrumental skills and age group to Olli Mustonen and Stephen Hough. His debut tour in Australia included both orchestral concerts and solo recitals. On Monday night, he appeared in front of a nearly sold-out house in Sydney, performing an extremely demanding programme.