Classical Music Happy Hour is a new classical music podcast hosted by seven-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax. Now available on Apple Podcasts, episode 2 features a conversation with composer and pianist Marc-André Hamelin, titled “Marc-André Hamelin – Rocks Rachmaninoff.“
In each episode, Ax talks with special guests about their lives and careers, listens to some of their favorite classical works, plays music-inspired games, and answers questions from listeners.
In Episode 2, Marc-André Hamelin joins Manny to talk about growing up with a musical father, the mechanics of piano playing, and the influences behind his prolific performing and recording career. He answers listener questions about piano transcriptions and why music is written in so many different keys. In the music segment, Hamelin performs one of his favorite works by Rachmaninoff live in the studio.
Pianist Marc-André Hamelin is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the German Record Critics’ Association, and over 20 of its quarterly awards. Other honors include eight Juno Awards, 12 Grammy nominations, the 2018 Jean Gimbel Lane Prize from Northwestern University, and the Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award from the Ontario Arts Foundation. Hamelin is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Québec, and a member of the Royal Society of Canada. Born in Montreal, Hamelin lives in the Boston area with his wife, Cathy Fuller, a producer and host at Classical WCRB.