For Immediate Release - Jue 18, 2019
Silver medalist and laureate of the Krystian Zimerman award of the best sonata at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2015, Charles Richard-Hamelin is standing out as one of the most important pianists of his generation. He also won the second prize at the Montreal International Musical Competition and the third prize and special award for the best performance of a Beethoven sonata at the Seoul International Music Competition in South Korea. Charles was recently awarded the Order of Arts and Letters of Quebec and the prestigious Career Development Award offered by the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto.
One of my friends asked, ”Should you be bragging that he was a silver medalist?” To which I firmly replied, YES. This is a Canadian winning Silver in one of the world’s most prestigious and difficult competitions. The Chopin International in WARSAW, the actual home of Chopin where the composer is worshipped!
I’ve heard Charles play live, and online, and he has the trappings of great artistry combined with complete and refined technique. He is the REAL DEAL! To hear him up close in the intimate Recital Hall will be a rare and special treat.
Recent reviews…
“His solo recital at Koerner Hall on Sunday afternoon confirmed beyond the shadow of a doubt that this 29-year-old native of Lanaudière, Quebec, has abilities to rival the world’s finest and most experienced pianists.
To all appearances, this was a classic recital. The young, slightly rumpled-looking pianist, dressed in black, strode out to the big, shiny, black Steinway concert grand. He sat down without fanfare and played for 90 minutes in front of a full house of attentive listeners.
Recitals like this are commonplace. In a city like Toronto, they happen several times a week at the height of the season. But few artists render music with such finesse.”
— Review of his recital at Koerner Hall, Feb. 3, 2019 by the Toronto Star
“Other young Canadian pianists may claim to be Chopin specialists, but Richard-Hamelin is the only one I’ve heard who deserves the title: the true heir to Louis Lortie, André Laplante and Janina Fialkowska.
This was astonishing pianism of the highest level. There’s something about Richard-Hamelin that reminds me of a young Radu Lupu – both physically, with his dishevelled dark hair and bear-like posture at the piano, and in his molten-gold sound all warmth, power, and miraculous, almost vocal legato.
Richard-Hamelin’s raw emotional impact is the real deal, rooted completely in his convincing musicianship and not in the heavenward gazing and other self-conscious mannerisms of many of his peers.”
— Natasha Gauthier, Montreal, July 12, 2016
ONLY 20 TICKETS LEFT!
This season has been the best-attendended festival ever, and it a sold out final concert is within reach. I hope to see you there! Thanks for your support over the years.
Ken (Gee)
Musicfest founder & director
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