Leos Janacek – Robert Schumann : Marc-André Hamelin, piano

   in Piano International (Sep, 2014)
This is truly inspired programming, and just as inspired playing. Hamelin links Schumann’s introspection with the shadowy reminiscences of Janá?ek in the first book of the latter’s Po zarostlém chodni?ku. A previous performance of this by Hamelin, available on Danacord (from Schloss von Husum, DACOCD559), is supplanted thanks to Hyperion’s impeccable production values. The idea of Romantic and post-Romantic ‘Rückblick’ is viscerally and powerfully made here, with Hamelin moulding his mode of delivery to each composer. Janá?ek’s individualistic textures have rarely felt so natural (although Kvapil on Regis is a more than viable alternative). The Schumann items take on a new fragility, conspiratorially delivered fairytales. There is not a hint …