Composer and pianist 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.

The piece performed by Marc-André Hamelin is Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Etude-Tableau op39/5 in E-flat minor.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Music used in today’s episode includes:

53 Studies on the Chopin Études: No. 12 in G-Flat Major (6th Version)
Leopold Godowsky
Robert Helps, Piano

53 Studies on the Chopin Études: No. 45 in E Major (1st Version)
Leopold Godowsky
Robert Helps, Piano

Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade
Modest Mussorgsky
Yutong Sun, Piano

Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade
Modest Mussorgsky
Volgograd Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Serov

Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major
Mozart
Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Michael Thompson

Fantasia in C minor, K. 475
Mozart
Péter Nagy, piano

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Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.