Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 106, "Hammerklavier" - Marc-André Hamelin

Performed live by Marc-André Hamelin at Tippet Rise Art Center on 4 September 2022. Located in Fishtail, Montana, Tippet Rise celebrates art, music, architecture, and nature: inextricably linked in the human experience, each making the others more powerful.
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 106, ""Hammerklavier"
00:00 - Opening
00:02 - Allegro
10:51 - Scherzo: Assai vivace
13:57 - Adagio sostenuto
32:37 - Introduzione: Largo...Allegro - Fuga: Allegro risoluto
Performed by:
Marc-André Hamelin, piano
Program book: tippetrise.org/library/2022-p...
Produced in house at Tippet Rise Art Center
Film Director / Cinematographer: Kevin Richey
Lighting Board Operator / Electrician: Peter Fedock
Editor & Colorist: Kevin Richey
Sound Recording: Monte Nickles and Jim Ruberto
Sound Editor: Dan Getty
Sound Mastering: Monte Nickles
Visit tippetrise.org

[@jandrewscali]

Unbelievable. The majesty of Beethoven given to us by an incredible artist on the piano! Thank you, Marc-Andre!

[@dgrdixon]

@11:47 he uses 5 & 2 to play the octave legato in left hand. Impressive his hands are large indeed. Really enjoyed listening.

[@bejanabdolvahabi4944]

We saw Marc perform the Hammerklavier yesterday at the south bank in London. Exceptional performance which was greeted to a standing ovation lasting well over 5 mins. To which the maestro graciously responded with a encore.

[@namirkharchi2460]

What encores did he play, as I had to leave before the end?

[@suremate]

@@namirkharchi2460According to a friend who was there, they were CPE Bach Rondo in C minor, and Hamelin's own Music Box composition.

[@ljummen]

Cannot but agree with the rave comments about Hamelin's great performance of this masterpiece. Few pianists today have the skill and interpretative ability to tackle this sonata in a satisfactory manner. And the beautiful surrounding mentioned indeed adds a quality to the performance.

[@grigorpetrov8006]

Great performance?? This is a total mess. Sloppy, too fast playing with no thought behind it. It's all just sheer technique.

[@JerryEboy69]

@@grigorpetrov8006 The definition of biased hate

[@allegrobrio968]

A highly satisfying interpretation of a towering masterpiece performed in a beautiful setting by one of the most accomplished pianists of our day. Hats off to the video producer/recording engineer and many thanks to the Tippet Rise Art Center for posting this video. And to those who have found fault with this performance: "Those who can do, those who can't criticize."

[@TippetRiseArtCenter]

Thank you for watching! Our crew appreciates it!

[@1fattyfatman]

@@TippetRiseArtCenter I want to thank you as well. This is the best imaginable sound and video quality.

[@TippetRiseArtCenter]

Thank you! We really try to bring you all the best!

[@mattheweamespiano2947]

absolutely astounding. Incredible. Beautiful. Perfection almost

[@edwardp.gannon9320]

Remarkably I had never before seen Hamelin's simple solution to the notoriously dangerous left hands skips - just cross over and play the bass note with the right hand.

[@maplemusic8851]

Agreed. I personally take the bass note with the LH and the B-flat 6/4 triad with the RH.

[@karpabla]

That is like was intended by Beethoven, as contemporary videos show. (...)

[@benharmonics]

I’ve seen it many times! It’s a good solution. You can also do what Mr. Maplemusic does. The “non-cheating” option, just playing everything with the left hand, is the “work harder, not smarter” approach.

[@waggawaggaful]

This is one of the conceptually densest pieces of music every created. I've been listening to different versions for at least a decade now and am still trying to understand it. All of the late Beethoven sonatas are hard to understand.

[@sschung9753]

Thanks very much Master Hamelin and Tippet Center. Wonderful and new definition of the piece.

[@chriso9338]

Génial

[@tomyoarrete3060]

proprement hallucinant 💖👏👏👏

[@most_sane_piano_enthusiast]

beyond wild

[@alanleoneldavid1787]

22:09

[@beckerhanshermann8372]

A significant interpretation of the Hammerklavier Sonata has long been available from the German pianist Michael Korstick, who has also produced a complete recording of all 32 Beeethoven sonatas. Korstick's art is highly esteemed, but is unfortunately little known. Like the reference recordings by Pollini and Uchida (and possibly Levit), Korstick's interpretation should definitely be heard. Eine bedeutsame Interpretation der Hammerklaviersonate existiert seit langem von dem deutschen Pianisten Michael Korstick, der auch eine Gesamtaufnahme aller 32 Beeethoven-Sonaten vorgelegt hat. Korsticks Kunst wird hoch geschätzt, ist aber leider wenig bekannt. Wie die Referenzaufnahmen von Pollini und Uchida (und evtl. von Levit) sollte man Korsticks Interpretation unbedingt kennen. .

[@stephanusgraficus3000]

sagenhaft toll gespielt. Ich bin nur noch sprachlos.

[@JeaneRousseau717]

even for the goat this sonata is 2 hard 2 play

[@marekvollach7831]

Methinks Ludwig would have liked "sehr gut" Marc-Andre's interpretation

[@1fattyfatman]

Bravo Hamelin! Up there with Solomon for me. Serkin is of course at the bottom of the heap in this piece, even in the sections he could play.

[@gabmar6554]

Oh my god !! it's already finished.... Oh but I fall asleep...Maybe Hamelin is under anti-depressant

[@exequielchuaqui5968]

12:08 ???

[@timothyhoft]

It's a live performance. He hit a wrong note.

[@exequielchuaqui5968]

It sounds as if that extra note was intended

[@timothyhoft]

@@exequielchuaqui5968 no, it wasn’t. Great pianists like Hamelin make mistakes sound intentional.

[@user-zs5ix1lf3r]

That was to demonstrate" To play a wrong note is insignificant. To play without passion is inexcusable!"

[@davidschestenger3366]

@@user-zs5ix1lf3rtotally agree a computer can do it “perfect” The most important is the spirit

[@suremate]

I wouldn’t have expected Hamelin of all people to cheat the opening jump.

[@coralreef909]

He took the easy way out. Not very virtuosic is it ?

[@marekvollach7831]

REPETITION...Hmmmmm and why would our beloved Beethoven repeat and repeat and REPEAT...on what might he be insisting(soft resect-filled smile????

[@grigorpetrov8006]

Sounds like a Beethoven etude. And the opening love B flat cheat was disappointing to say the least.

[@suremate]

@@avirupdutt6408 It's written as a jump in the left hand but he plays the opening B-flat with his right, meaning he doesn't have to risk messing up the jump. Given Hamelin's technical gifts, this surprised me.

[@Do_Bn]

It’s quite amusing seeing y’all obsessing over one shortcut in such a long and technically difficult sonata that he execute insanely well considering his age

[@dkant4511]

The Adagio is just tough to get through no matter the pianist. Yet one of the greatest slow movements Beethoven ever wrote just too long and repetitive.

[@soutteruk1]

Daft!

[@vk2nf]

I’ve been studying and learning the Adagio for over 20 years and can give a passably credible performance. It is a deeply, powerfully introspective movement that has transcendent qualities that transfigures the performer emotionally, and hopefully the listener. Reaching the last page you feel drained and wrung out, and then finally there’s that resolution of the last three chords like bells chiming, and the promise of an awakening….

[@Maximilian2808]

6:00 those sixths are horrible to play

[@jandrosibilia5242]

I'd never realised what an ugly piece this is till tonight. Congratulations for the great technical achievement, though

[@Numberonesorabjifan]

😱

[@mikekarren5010]

Beethoven did not suffer fools lately. Good thing he’s not around to hear what you had to say.

[@Pablo-gl9dj]

Don't look in the mirror.

[@PaulJones-oj4kr]

Fingers galore. Glib musicianship. Hamelin is depthless. Compare with Serkin.

[@1fattyfatman]

Serkin had a tone like a banjo and kept time in a comically constipated and academic way. When I think of glib and depthless I think of Serkin.

[@rudolfpianos]

Both coming from opposite schools of thought!

[@maxwel3381]

@@rudolfpianoseveryone is so critical when both offer excellent interpretations of such a piece 😹

[@thearm95]

@@1fattyfatmana tone like a banjo? On the piano, how could that be even possible?

[@imdarealani]

22:05