Chopin Competition Rival of Cho Seong-jin, Richard Amelin Returns to Korea After 2 Years

Canadian pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin, who competed with Seong-Jin Cho at the 2015 Chopin International Piano Competition, will hold a solo recital at 5 p.m. on June 1 at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center. Richard-Hamelin placed second behind Seong-Jin Cho at the 2015 Chopin International Piano Competition and received the award for the best sonata performance.

Richard-Hamelin's return solo recital in Korea comes after more than two years since April 2022. In his performance two years ago, he played works by Ravel and Chopin, and this time he plans to perform pieces by Granados and Alb?niz along with Chopin. In the first half, he will present works full of Spanish melodies by Granados and Alb?niz, and in the second half, he will perform only Chopin's works.

The first piece in the first half is Granados's 'Allegro de concert.' It is followed by Granados's 'Poetic Waltz' and Alb?niz's 'La Vega.' 'La Vega' is the second piece of a symphonic suite titled 'Alhambra,' which consists of six pieces and was arranged by Alb?niz as a piano solo. Alb?niz is a representative Spanish composer but was greatly influenced by French music, associating with many French Impressionist composers.

In the second half, Chopin's 'Allegro de concert' is followed by eight of Chopin's waltzes. He will perform well-known pieces such as the Cat Waltz, Dog Waltz, Farewell Waltz, and the piece No. 64-3 that Richard-Hamelin played at the Chopin Competition.

Richard-Hamelin has released nine albums under the Analekta label and has received numerous awards including the Felix Award, Diapason d'Or, BBC Music Magazine Award, and Le Devoir Prize.