Hamelin plays Scriabin - Piano Sonata No.5 [HIGH QUALITY]

This is in higher quality than has been uploaded previously.
Pf: Marc-André Hamelin
Casals Hall, Tokyo.
11th December 1997.

[@OdinLimaye]

The climax of this piece is one of the most amazing things I've ever heard; no other composer can even come close to creating the feeling of ecstasy that Scriabin creates.

[@charlesmarquis2533]

I've been a page turner for Mr. Hamelin few years ago... He's a serious pianist and musician. Stop that pianist bashing about him. He's a master. He's a major interpret of our time. Facility doesn't mean supeficiality. Listen to him guys!

[@hamelinlover]

He is a great person!

... and he is one of the few (really few) which I truly respect today.

[@nezkeys79]

Hes amazing. His un sospiro is magical

[@kerencanelo8580]

I thought you were Charles Mingus

[@bigl5343]

He is my favorite pianist to listen to. Listen to his performance of Chopin's "Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35". It is one the best recordings of that piece.

[@EpigeneticAlteration]

I love the Japanese audience. You wouldn't even know anyone is there - no one dares make a peep.

[@vetlerradio]

It's so good to hear only the piano, and the applauses after the piece.

[@christophera1520]

I agree. Japan is amazing. I love the people, culture, well almost everything about it.

[@lunchmind]

Take a lesson, America.

[@Magnet12]

It’s all a facade, people. They know they have to keep quiet because if they start being aggressors again they know what’s coming (another atomic bomb).

[@minhtrungle9117]

William I sense both irrelevance and douchebaggery in your comment, which had nothing to do with the superb appreciation for music and respect for the performer the Japanese audience in this video is displaying.

[@colosseumbuilders4768]

This is the best performance I have heard. It is one of the few that is up tempo but remains lyrical and does not turn into keyboard gymnastics.

[@danielfeygin1216]

2:14 I'm so obsessed with those octaves

[@cowboytim98]

WHO dared to dislike this video? I want them brought to my office IMMEDIATELY.

[@hugod327]

I did not dislike, but i undertsand why they might have. The performance was a fine one but not something extraordinary or uniquely played. One can find the piece on youtube played by stanislav neuhaus ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/qom1qYGZqJagrpY ) and by Samuil Feinberg, which performances are on a different level of pianism. Dont get me wrong, his performance was neat.

[@petorstevons3968]

Mouse slip probably.

[@DannyintheSpirit]

Sounds like a cross between Chopin and early Liszt.

[@hobohobohobo794]

Disliked cause they’ll never play it

[@Piotr-jx4bu]

My favorite recording of my favorite sonata by my favorite composer.

[@seniorskateboarder5958]

He makes so much sense out of this music. It's delightful!

[@denzelabarquez9978]

My mentor recommended listening to Hamelin’s interpretation of Scriabin’s sonata as a prepare for a competition, and I clearly see why. His command over tone and stoic presentation is a feat! He does not play note perfect, but he goes for the mystic effect-a must in Scriabin’s music. Bravo!

[@mikhailtrushechkin1642]

Hi:) I wonder how would You like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6Daaoawdqt1jbM

[@salvorizzo8671]

As matter of facts, this interpretation is one of the cleanest I ever heard

[@オリバーオリバー-e4d]

It is note perfect though.

[@otaviobettega2492]

@@オリバーオリバー-e4d 2:10 he makes a few mistakes but overall i mean the guy is a concert pianist

[@hugginduff]

I have been following him for years.. one of the great living pianists....THE Scriabin interpreter

[@ElectricUnicycleCrew]

Incredible piece of music.

[@zahahay13]

What a pleasant surprise seeing a comment from you here!

[@CalamityInAction]

I know right. Anarchism and Hamelin forever

[@zerois2801]

A once in a lifetime kind of piece

[@MrPlumiferus]

A piece like this needs a pianist like Hamelin.

[@travissolesbee]

HAMELIN IS AMAZING!

[@jack17jackson3]

this has to be the most beautiful interpretation of this sonata, im latterly in tears....

[@fiscalcpiano]

I love this piece because there are splashes of color all over the place. The composer knew how to paint the soundwaves like a canvas

[@TomCL-vb6xc]

Hose2wAcKiEr It’s actually one of the few pieces were Scriabin shows a fair mixture of his romantic voice and his newfound Scriabin-esque, almost impressionist language.

[@mikhailtrushechkin1642]

Hi:) I wonder how would You like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6Daaoawdqt1jbM

[@jonathantaylor5514]

Hamelin needs no comment really except to say that his music is so moving

[@davidxpopescu]

This is the type of interpretation that should have deserved BRAVO shouted at the end.

[@mikhailtrushechkin1642]

Hi:) I wonder how would You like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6Daaoawdqt1jbM

[@42TheCube]

I love how even in the most chaotic and intense parts he seems so... calm. Heck, I can't even do that when I'm playing the orchestral vioiln parts for violin concertos (a.k.a. the most boring parts in the violin repertoire, of any genre).

[@Emanonerewhon]

First time ever seeing Hamelin play this, what I find impresses me most is how calm he is during the very difficult impetuous sections, and how his countenance changes during the very calm, dreamy rising and falling sections. This was a remarkable performance.

[@ban9nas177]

10:48 is just such a beautiful climax, my favorite part. Its grandioseness reminds me of the climax of Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 2 3rd movement which is one of my favorite moments in all of music.

[@yagiz885]

just a reminder rachmaninoff's 2nd piano sonata is written after this sonata has been published.

[@JohannesBruhms]

Now I can know why rachmaninoff was called 'the final romanticist'. I can't believe this 'half tonality' piece was composed earlier than rach's romantic sonata.

[@aldoringo439]

You forgot to mention how the 1st and second movement of rach 2 are a lot better than the 3rd

[@zerois2801]

@@JohannesBruhms well it makes sense because rach was super conservative compared to his peers like for the time period his romantic harmonic language was pretty outdated in the face of modernism

[@federico6485]

After seeing the sheet of this sonata, I can't believe how he all learnt this by heart and played it without the sheet, it's almost... impossible!

[@dukeofcurls3183]

well this is one of the hardest pieces in all of piano literature meaning if you want to play it you’re going to need to spend a LOT of time on it, and the more time you spend learning a piece the more likely you’ll be able to easily memorize it

[@dukeofcurls3183]

@CRÖCÖDILE what did I say wrong

[@AsrielKujo]

@̣ go play it then if you think it's easy you dumb fuck

[@NoProSkills]

Hello, pianist here. When you’re learning a piece, you automatically memorize it. And since this is a 25 page piece, you kinda need tj memorize

[@8beef4u]

pretty much all pianists memorize all the music they play. If they don't it's actually kind of embarrassing

[@margarethansen7480]

Fantastic music and Esther interpretation!! Thanks, Mousieur Hammelin👏👏👏❤❤❤

[@jennyrook]

Wonderful performance! Up there with Richter's mad and wonderful live performance years ago.

[@mistericeberggg3677]

Comment on peut avoir autant de talent j'arrive pas à comprendre

[@Corleone1337]

Fascinating. I clicked a random suggestion, after listening to some Alkan, and this has pleasantly surprised me. I probably have to get used to this style of music (as was the case with Liszt and Alkan for me), but I think I may end up liking Scriabin quite a lot.

[@СветланаГерасимович-з1ж]

Он Вам обязательно понравится!

[@akashrima7917]

With reference to the fact that the comment was made 8 years ago , do you like Scriabin now ?

[@kerencanelo8580]

@@akashrima7917 nine now🥶

[@aakarshitsingh1535]

@@kerencanelo8580 now it has been 10 years

[@kezia8380]

@@aakarshitsingh1535 now it has been 11 years

[@journey3451]

スクリャービンの曲で一番聴くし、一番好きです。動画で見られてうれしいです。

[@milgaru]

mr. hamelin did the thing again!

[@lokmanmerican6889]

Stunning performance.

[@PupiDiZuccaro]

hamelin pure genius

[@pianist-moko]

Beautiful✨️

[@pihipsz]

best performance of scriabin op 53

[@PaulRx4]

If not the ultimate surely in my top 3 of 15 other really fantastic pianists. Am a Scriabin addict enjoying my addiction for 60+ years! There are many wonderful performances here at You Tube which took me many decades to find. Those old Russian vinyls were a real drag!!

[@mohitoness]

it's amazing how hamelin and feinberg make it sound SO different. scriabin's layers in harmony are so radiant that they are both able to bring out two different moods and melodies in all the clusers... personally my favorite is horrowitz though, it's as if he has managed to objectify himself from the piece and play it as one whole, an observer and storyteller... what do you think interwebs?

[@pvonberg]

Well Horowitz was just unbelievable

[@jorgejimenez4325]

Thought I was hallucinating but helps to see other people see the same thing

[@rogierdailly1608]

great take of this brilliant piece!

[@thomgeo8073]

შეუდარებელი პიანისტი, მუსიკოსი, ფილოსოფოსი... უნიკალური მოვლენა მთელ მუსიკალურ სამყაროში!

[@Polygor2]

It's all Gippog to me

[@anonunknown7999]

​@@Polygor2 "The incomparable pianist, musician, philosopher... A unique event throughout in the world of music" (Translated from Georgian)

[@robertadeangelis7023]

Non riesco a capire come si possano mettere 15 pollici versi ad un pianista così favoloso.....

[@jackcurley1591]

2:40-2:45 danggg Scriabin came up with this progression way before koji kondo (beginning of fairy fountain theme). Also holy shit this is Hamelin in his prime, literally incomparable w regard to technique

[@s3ri0uz99]

good find man! I recently noticed how similar the music in the ganon dungeon in the first zelda game is compared to the beginning of vers la flamme which is by scriabin too lol

[@lawn6804]

I'm not sure, but isn't that just the same chord but descending in inversions? It's a pretty simple concept that I'm sure has been used many times before and after Scriabin.

[@OdinLimaye]

It’s just a dominant seven chord being played in different inversions; that’s nothing unique to Scriabin. Pretty much every composer in history has written a phrase either similar or identical to the passage you mentioned.

[@jackcurley1591]

@@OdinLimaye I never said it was unique to Scriabin. Just wanted to point out that Koji Kondo used the exact same chord, descending in the same exact way, to begin the fairy fountain theme.

[@Carroto_cubing]

06:23 I like the best.

[@charlesmarquis2533]

That sence of rythm and color is a gift of god. How can you criticed this like this guys?

[@aprilyu1514]

2:05 Sounds Magical...

[@aprilyu1514]

Sharl Yu wait, how can even that possible? i saw the score, and that part is impossible to play in that speed!! and he made no mistakes....

[@guirlandes3]

+Sharl Allison Sorry to burst your bubble and disillusion you but he makes plenty of mistakes, and worsse. It is a total mess in interpretive and technical categories.Its rather like someone who can barely speak English with a thick central African accent. Or in this case,speaking bad and incomprehensible Russian with a New Jersey accent.

[@LandOnBolts]

+John Bell Young stop trying hard to criticize and just be happy :)

[@LandOnBolts]

+Tom Lannin John bell could sniff my toenails

[@robertadeangelis9948]

scusate ma proprio non capisco questi 13 pollici versima secondo voi si può suonare meglio di così?ho l'integrale delle sonate di Skriabin fatte da lui, e per me sono un magistero .....capacità di analisi , fantasia, creatività, talento musicale enorme e una tecnica allucinantegrandissimo hamelin

[@beatrixvantil8623]

Magnifique !🙏

[@yowzephyr]

Damn that looks hard.

[@classicalsemioticapocalyps6698]

8:00 - 8:41 my favorite

[@EraPianist]

Beautiful Video! Hamelin is a master of Scriabin and Medtner. Thank you for the upload. Check out channel of Sheng Cai plays Scriabin Sonata in Montreal !!!

[@mikhailtrushechkin1642]

Hi:) I wonder how would You like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6Daaoawdqt1jbM

[@joefalchetto94]

In the period of the 5th sonata Scriabin was still quite rooted to tonal music.. If you look carefully to his compositions, you'll find that he frequently uses the Lydian Dominant scale (check it out on the web), characterized by the 4# and the 7b.

[@classicalmusiclover4029]

Marco Risolino Yes, it’s still tonal but he was on the edge of turning atonal. But I really love this style

[@PianoGuy954]

It's still tonal in the sense that there are still tonal progressions and clear chord functions, but it's so much focused on dominant chords (7ths, 9ths, elevenths with altered fifths and fourths...) without ever resolving to the tonic, shifting through brutal modulations and with absolutely zero perfect major chord at any point (in context), that we can already say that there is no tonal center anymore.

[@JohnGaroPiano]

This piece is really really really hard

[@user-fm3cf4kg5r]

beautiful

[@jeanlucchapelon]

Quelle belle musique et si bien jouée…🏆🥇🎼🎹

[@MrPlumiferus]

Wonderful

[@morganmartinez8420]

Best part 0:08 - 11:35

[@AsrielKujo]

Stfu

[@justsomerandomasshole3699]

@@AsrielKujo no u

[@AsrielKujo]

@@justsomerandomasshole3699 OMG I AM SO INSITLED

[@justsomerandomasshole3699]

@@AsrielKujo (really aggressive dab)

[@leocastillo9618]

Scriabin is the penultimate test for a pianist.

[@VanoArts]

whois the ultimate test?

[@anonunknown7999]

His/her sanity.

[@KrisKeyes]

Hamelin is the ultimate test (he composes too).

[@composerandreykudryavtsev7690]

Appreciate this pieces in the Scriabin late style! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6uYnYaCq9qIicU and kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHayhIOwbsx1b9U This year, January 6 marked the 150th anniversary of the Birth of Alexander Nikolaevich Scriabin. He is the person closest to me and beloved by me in the whole world of art, a composer who immerses with his magical music into the worlds of "the highest refinement and the highest grandeur." Having deeply passed through all his work, I learned to thoroughly reproduce the elements of the Scriabin style. In particular, the style of the works of his late creative period, sounding extraordinary, otherworldly, mystical... Using specific means, first of all harmony (as well as texture and tempo), I can "scriabe" any piece, melody or motive accordingly, without changing at all or almost without changing the notes of the melodic line of the original. And despite the fact that in this case I didn't even change a single note of the melody of the original holiday song "Happy birthday to you" kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHayhIOwbsx1b9U , in the end it sounds completely different: now it's not a "home holiday", but the image of a nervous-impetuous strong-willed flame characteristic of Scriabin! Also I "enchanted" the famous Christmas song "Jingle bells" kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6uYnYaCq9qIicU into a figurative sphere characteristic of Scriabin: now it is the most refined cosmic longing, gradually ecstatically excited, and then melting away...

[@funicon3689]

@@VanoArts sorabji

[@ugnex3]

totally feel you, haven't listened to Richters but I live and breathe Horowitz's especially the one posted here. the part at 8:00 climax part just didn't do it justice, horowitz with his creeping rubato and raw emotion, this one is just too clean for me @_@

[@Marco-yq1kg]

my dream is to perform this like him one day 🥺

[@godless-4034]

شكرًا سالم لينش.

[@natalisvetozar3548]

Очень понравилось исполнение этой сонаты!!!

[@entermayor1312]

There is something off about his interpretation (it might be a bit bland compared to the other staple ones), yet it is still my favourite. I've never heard a choice of tempos that fit more this piece from any other pianist, ever. One could argue about Hamelin's choices on dynamics, but the way in which he brings out the finale is simply unparalleled. As far as I know no one plays this sonata this way, which is extremely odd to me, given how natural and effortless it feels.

[@jeanstemarie1527]

Yes

[@user-eh5yx7pq9q]

he rushes through a lot of passages and doesn't have much dynamic range, so everything sounds blended together. the notes could use some more breathing space, but it sounds amazing as is

[@sihansi7]

Transition from 8:40 to 8:43 is perfect

[@scriabin_chopin_rachmaninov]

日本人の方、👍ポチっと願います

[@dalethomasdewitt]

The criticism of his muscular thinking centers on soft edge rubato license et al., . . . at least he presents his mastery as a comprehensive unit which pedanticism can never hope. Most piano composition is merely spiritual exercise for youngsters. What you thought impossible was only an introduction.

[@jozhfitz]

best part 1:40 - 2:20 and 8:06 - 9:06

[@mmeister7]

+Josh Fitzgerald 10:35 onwards is also very good.

+Josh Fitzgerald I prefer 0:08 - 11:35

[@yagiz885]

I love those chromatics

[@astrithbaltsan3412]

This sonata is pure magic! like an ancient voodoo of some sort! wonderful playing

[@turncapp]

Its pretty awesome. I wish I could play it.

[@angelobonacci461]

Tenendo in considerazione che da molti grandi pianisti questo è considerato il pezzo più difficile lascio a voi giudicare..

[@EraPianist]

Amazing, Hamelin is a master of Scriabin and Medtner! Check out our channel of Sheng Cai playing Scriabin in Montreal !!!

[@hyperklavier]

Superb as usual.

[@whatgivesit]

this music is like a chase..... between predator & prey, or between good & evil....

[@curiousbouteverythin]

"Softrinitsky" - LOL I love my mistake too ;-) I know the score inside-out (at leastI the Zen-on Hirai edition) - can you give any examples of his mis-readings?

[@elrichardo1337]

personally i think the whole performance could do with a bit less pedal...? idk i'm probably just too used to richter's performance

[@leomiller2291]

Richter’s is my favorite, but I appreciate the clinical cleanness and precision that Hamelin provides. Other pianists simply don’t have the chops that Hamelin has, so I can appreciate Hamelin because he lets me hear every note for the exact duration it needs to receive. There’s no fakery or “hoping for the best” with Hamelin’s precision.

[@jaapvandertuuk9307]

He now and then finds the time to adjust his glasses.Amazing performance,by the way.

[@xodn3300]

is one supposed to pedal through the presto/prestissimo sections like he does here? i think i prefer richter's less-pedalled and not-so-rushed version.. still, watching hamelin's fingers here is fascinating!

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Incredible performance! As I grow older I am suspect of Sonata that feels impelled to disregard a steady beat. That which makes it exist as a Sonata. Retards, accells are one thing but sudden tempo changes, along with radical dynamics make it Bi-polar. I do not wish for a Sonata to demonstrate that quality. Obvious reasons. Bravo to Hamelin!❤

[@JohnEBPiano]

The clarity he achieves in the (extremely difficult) finale is unparalleled by any other pianist and it was amazing to hear this. I sort of got bored during the rest of the performance to be shamefully honest. I think there is something missing in Mr. Hamelin's personality... A sort of restraint that is not in agreement with the soul of this sonata. I have a lot more luck with Richter and Horowitz with this piece, but then again they are Richter and Horowitz. Hopefully someone shares my view!

[@mercer4562]

ashkenazys is quite good as well

[@user-xq1bc5qx2p]

He looks like Robert Fripp on many shots for me. I guess it's the glasses

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

Seems like Scriabin was more jazz than Rachmaninov. And more about the mood rather than the punch.

[@dsmythe5329]

Interesting interpretation, very good... has anyone ever heard David Bean's live recording of this ? it was from the mid-70's on the Westminster Gold label.

[@RitchieDiamond]

Oh, thanks for the information! :)

[@viggos.n.5864]

1:38

[@glum_hippo]

The piece closes with a fermata over a rest. Shame the thunderous applause didn't give us a chance to hear that last bar.

[@joefalchetto94]

You're welcome!

[@sihansi7]

5:05 is beautiful

[@slowkuryl0057]

I love rock 🤘

[@sihansi7]

1:40 beautiful

[@AlejandroSanAntonio]

First time I see him sewating...

[@jahkneeboi]

lol 😂😂

[@joshcortezmusic8697]

Great interpretation after the intro.

[@user-kk3kt5lq5p]

スクリャービンの「ピアノソナタ全集」を1996年にイギリスのハイペリオン・レコードから出しており、評判も高い。ただし、ロシア楽派直伝の解釈ではなく、彼もそれを認めている。

[@The1976spirit]

Well done! The development made it new for me. Will he play op.53 better, does he want to? Here he looks like Helmut Kohl, a little bit underrated, to come to the point----

[@Cesariono]

At which point is the Mystic Chord in its entirety played here?

[@erikfreitas7093]

7:04 & 7:15

[@slowkuryl0057]

Vous pouvez faire du rock

[@charlesmarquis2533]

It's beautiful. But the master is definitly Sofronistky for me.

[@mikehutton3937]

The sad thing is that most of Sofronitsky's recordings are rubbish. They're either poorly recorded (muddy never suited Scriabin) or error-strewn. He never liked being recorded.

[@dudrushpowerforce]

he plays this better than Yuja Wang

[@beickus]

of course - most artists are performers today, never heard of Michellangeli and Gould living in seclusion to achieve perfection

[@MegaPianogenius]

don't insult the master putting her name alongside his she is a beginner compared the Hamelin

[@frankfeldman6657]

Yes, he does. But she has that crazy ass spirit, which is undeniable. Plus, she's still a kid.

[@user-ch5ne8he2m]

he really does

[@darrylschultz9311]

Hmm interesting point Dudrush(is it okay if I just call you 'Dud'-or would that be too much of a 'Rush'?).And I must confess to never having heard of this other instrument he plays,this "Yuja Wang",is it?

[@arika002]

@palpitamento me too.

[@whatzause]

This is my favorite Scriabin Sonata also. But if you can hear Ponti playing it, you'll know how it's supposed to sound. Hamelin is incredible, I know, but here he blurs some of the concepts. If you doubt this try the Ponti.

[@terryss95]

I need to know desperately, please anyone: what piano was this.

[@fiscalcpiano]

+terryss95 Probably a Steinway D

[@carlrichards49]

+terryss95 It doesn't look like a Steinway ... the scrollwork at the end of the keyboard is different. Odd that the name on the fallboard has been obliterated. It might be a Yamaha, since this is Tokyo. The performance is fabulous, equal to Richter's, which set the mark for me fifty years ago. BTW Richter played Yamaha.

[@terryss95]

Anson Yeung Wich model do you think it might be?

[@terryss95]

Anson Yeung Are you sure? I mean, what' s the difference in sound between the steinway models? I had the chance to play a steinway model D myself, but the tone sounded a bit different compared to the one Hamelin played on the occasion filmed in this video. It may sound absurd, but a Lipmann i played some time ago, sounded really close to the tone of that piano, even more than the Steinway model D you' re advising me... You know, you don' t buy a Gran Coda once every year...

[@terryss95]

Wich one has a more colorful, warm sound, even if not tuned at 432hz but standard 440, among all steinway pianos?

[@Man_k-ind]

8:40

[@scriabin_chopin_rachmaninov]

日本人の方、ポチッと願います😆

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

10:36

[@bloba6969]

scriabun

[@TimKarplus]

Why do I keep expecting this to break into Clair de Lune? Especially around 4:30-5:00

[@salvorizzo8671]

Eh eh. Close enough

[@elementsofphysicalreality]

That’s a lot to write down and arrange. Very abstract.

[@universalsailor]

1/2 time if I'm not very much mistaken ...

[@NOSEhow2LIV]

Well if you've been listening to "Softrinitsky"(ha ha, love it!), probably everyone else's version will sound like "mistaken notes" as, if you check the score, "Softrinitsky" is the champion of not just mistakes but gross mis-readings.