Godowsky: Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes by Johann Strauss: No. 1, Künstlerleben

“There's no need for analogies about a surfeit of Viennese cream-cakes with this excellent CD: the musical inventions is so brilliant and varied, and the performance so coruscating, that one's attention is firmly held.” BBC Music Magazine, August 2008 *****

“How many fingers does Hamelin have? Thirty would be a conservative estimate, though the magic of his piano playing lies in his subtlety and flow, never in any shallow brilliance. Manner matches matter perfectly in this lilting CD of three “symphonic metamorphoses” of Johann Strauss’s waltzes by the piano virtuoso Leopold Godowsky. They sound symphonic too, deftly worked, complex in structure and emotion. The succulent recording is the cherry on the cake.” The Times, 15th August 2008 ****

“Whatever you think of the music, Hamelin's playing is infinitely seductive and flawlessly judged in its mixture of panache, grace and charm.” The Guardian, 15th August 2008 ***

“Countless inner voices and contrapuntal rejoinders abound in these works, and Hamelin makes them audible and clear… All told, a stellar achievement…” Gramophone Magazine, September 2008

“[The symphonic metamorphoses] are more than just for show, and Hamelin brings out their poetic intent as much as their panache and vivid energy.” The Telegraph, 23rd August 2008

“Here's another release that testifies to Marc- André Hamelin's cultured musicianship, extraordinary keyboard proficiency and unflappable tonal control. His key assets include the most together, impeccably voiced chords in the business, plus octaves, trills and rapid leaps that remain effortlessly even and focused, regardless of tempo.
All of this comes into delightful play over the course of the three big Strauss Symphonic Metamorphoses.
Countless inner voices and contrapuntal rejoinders abound in these works, and Hamelin makes them audible and clear without resorting to the pianistic equivalent of red-ink underlining or pop-up windows. Furthermore, Hamelin is a seasoned and subtle orchestrator at the piano; notice how he achieves such eloquent shading of simultaneous legato and detached phrases with no more help from the sustain pedal than is necessary.
One could argue that Godowsky's pinpoint tempo modifications throughout Wein, Weibund Gesang might benefit from stronger characterisation, in the manner of Shura Cherkassky's admittedly more capricious Decca recording, although Hamelin eschews the older pianist's cuts; in fact, Hamelin plays all three Metamorphoses complete, as written. As it happens, the less demanding shorter selections from Walzermasken, Triakontameron and The Last Waltz inspire some of Hamelin's most poetic, lyrically inspired playing on disc.
All told, a stellar achievement, graced by Hyperion's close-up yet ample engineering, plus Godowsky biographer Jeremy Nicholas's thoroughly informative and penetrating annotations.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

"A stunning display of piano playing in the grand manner" New York Times

‘A musical as well as a technical revelation … De Waal’s virtuosity is awe-inspiring, and he’s complemented throughout by a beautifully natural and wide-ranging recording’ (Gramophone)

“This disc is amazing, even hilarious, but should probably be taken in two or three separate doses. Godowsky's inventiveness reaches its apogee in the vast Passacaglia on the opening of Schubert's Unfinished, but it's all wild stuff, to which Rian de Waal does ample justice.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2006 *****