"To me a performance is not an exhibition-- it's an offering.” - Marc-André Hamelin

TL;DR

Pianist Mark André Hamelin discusses his career, preparation for performances, and his upcoming recital at Carnegie Hall.

Transcript

hello my name is mark andre hamlin and this is living the classical life [Applause] so so do so my [Applause] that's funny that's all we get just one clap just one clap exactly yeah budget cuts yeah mark it's a delight to welcome you here on to living the classical life thanks for being on the show of course we've been uh wanting to do this for a w... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Mark André Hamelin's career has progressed slowly but steadily, with a faithful following at Carnegie Hall.
• 😅 He focuses on mental preparation for performances and aims to regulate eating and conserve energy.
• 🖐️ Humor plays an important role in Hamelin's music, providing a varied emotional experience for the audience.
• 🕰️ Hamelin is drawn to rare repertoire and enjoys bringing lesser-known pieces to the stage.
• 💯 The complexity of scores, such as Feinberg's Sonata, challenges Hamelin to stay emotionally engaged and project his emotions clearly to the audience.

Questions & Answers

Q: How has Mark André Hamelin's career unfolded slowly and steadily?

Hamelin's career has been steadily progressing, with a consistent trajectory and lack of slumps.

Q: How does Hamelin mentally prepare for performances, especially at venues like Carnegie Hall?

He regulates his eating and aims to have an empty stomach a few hours before the performance. He also conserves energy and avoids overexerting himself during dress rehearsals.

Q: What is the place of humor in Hamelin's music and why is it important to him?

Humor is an essential part of the emotional gamut and should not be excluded. Hamelin believes that humor is just as important as any other emotion in music.

Q: How does Hamelin approach complex scores while staying emotionally engaged?

Hamelin stays emotionally engaged in complex and demanding technical moments by always thinking about the audience and projecting his emotions clearly.

Key Insights:

• Mark André Hamelin's career has progressed slowly but steadily, with a faithful following at Carnegie Hall.
• He focuses on mental preparation for performances and aims to regulate eating and conserve energy.
• Humor plays an important role in Hamelin's music, providing a varied emotional experience for the audience.
• Hamelin is drawn to rare repertoire and enjoys bringing lesser-known pieces to the stage.
• The complexity of scores, such as Feinberg's Sonata, challenges Hamelin to stay emotionally engaged and project his emotions clearly to the audience.
• Mark André Hamelin finds deep fulfillment in his marriage to pianist Kathy Fuller, which inspires him personally and professionally.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Mark André Hamelin reflects on his slow but steady rise in the classical music world, including his recent annual recitals at Carnegie Hall.

• He discusses how he prepares mentally for performances, finding the optimal performance state by regulating eating and conserving energy.

• Hamelin talks about the importance of humor in music, his affinity for rare repertoire, and his deep appreciation for Schubert's last sonata.