„His performance was in many ways exemplary, particularly in the slow movement, where his timid responses to the stern phrases from the orchestra seemed to reach us from some infinitely sad, distant place.“

„Martin Helmchen essayed the sort of playing that delights in itself – crisp, clear, dynamic, with a range of touch – and also at-one with the music, with no need to make points but with plenty of personality and many musical insights.“

“With Bach’s partita in A minor, Helmchen voices an invitation for an inner contemplation: The way he plays the six dance movements, transparent, so very cantabile and with the devotion of a believing Christian, creates an atmosphere of concentration, a shelter from the burdens of everyday life.”

“Martin Helmchen emphasizes the unearthly beauty of the melody [Franz Schubert’s Piano Sonata in B-flat Major], interprets the music as song of a soul, which is in peace with itself […].”

“Helmchen exuded charisma with precision in each note, lending a different character to every perfectly balanced phrase. He carried his performance with dignity and poise, completely in his element. The movements and gestures Helmchen put into his playing truly reflected the mood of Schumann’s work, creating endless joy and wonder, particularly in his approach to […]

“Tout est en effet d’une telle détermination, d’une telle préméditation que cette éthique du récital s’impose. Helmchen fait partie de ces artistes (évidemment, on pense à Alfred Brendel) qui possèdent une vision esthétique et culturelle organique d’une oeuvre et dont les doigts traduisent exactement toutes les facettes de cet univers. Avec Helmchen, le contrôle du […]