Martin Helmchen Piano
There are shooting stars who arrive on the concert scene like a bolt from the blue but then quickly disappear again. And there are musicians who gradually play their way into the limelight and at some point become an indispensable part of musical life. Winning the Clara Haskil Competition would normally have catapulted the 19-year-old Martin Helmchen to stardom in the classical world. The concert agencies and record companies proceeded slowly at first, however, and Martin Helmchen’s career developed gradually but steadily, for which he is extremely grateful in retrospect. “I had enough time and freedom to develop as an artist.”
Born in 1982, Martin Helmchen was the first student from the former West Berlin to attend the Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Musikgymnasium, a school specializing in music, then studied at the Hanns Eisler School of Music with Galina Iwanzowa and in Hannover with the legendary Arie Vardi. Equipped with the virtuosic qualifications of the Russian school, Martin Helmchen developed his own musical approach and established himself among the elite of the piano world.
He appears with the leading orchestras in Boston and Chicago, London and Cleveland, Paris and Tokyo and with the major German radio orchestras. He reached the pinnacle in his debuts with the Berlin, Vienna and New York Philharmonics and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw Orchestra. He has collaborated regularly with such conductors as Herbert Blomstedt, Philippe Herreweghe, Vladimir Jurowski, the late Sir Neville Marriner, Andris Nelsons, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Michael Sanderling and, in particular, his long-time musical partner and supporter Christoph von Dohnányi.
Martin Helmchen is not a showman but rather impresses audiences with his “absolutely determined approach,” Christophe Huss wrote in the Canadian newspaper Le Devoir. “Helmchen is one of those artists who have an aesthetically and culturally well thought-out vision of a work, and their fingers precisely reflect every facet of this universe. Helmchen’s control over the tone, refined dynamics and rhythmic mastery leave one speechless.”
“Virtuosity is great fun for me,” he says. Yet he never succumbs to the temptation of impressing his audience primarily with speed and effect. A profound musical interpretation and linear subtlety are more important to him, and in the long run his unpretentious, expressive playing, which achieves a remarkable balance between intellect and intuition, is all the more captivating.
It is revealing that chamber music, the “most natural and most exhilarating form of music making”, is especially important to Martin Helmchen. He was particularly influenced in this genre by cellists Boris Pergamenschikow and Heinrich Schiff and performs regularly with Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, Veronika Eberle, Julia Fischer, Antoine Tamestit, Christian Tetzlaff, Antje Weithaas, Carolin Widmann, Juliane Banse and Matthias Goerne. He has been an associate professor at the Kronberg Academy since 2010.
Martin Helmchen’s CD recordings include piano concertos by Mozart, Schumann, Dvořák, Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and George Benjamin as well as solo works and chamber music by Schubert, Schumann and Brahms, for the most part on the Pentatone label. Together with his wife, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, he is also active in the work of the Music Road Rwanda project, which was launched by his wife.
August Everding Saal Grünwald, Germany
Edward Elgar: Quintett für Klavier und Streichquartett op. 84 a-Moll
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Robert Schumann: Klavierquintett Es-Dur op. 44 (1842)
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, Carolin Widmann, Pauline Sachse, David McCarroll
Konzerthaus Wien, Austria
Edward Elgar: Quintett für Klavier und Streichquartett op. 84 a-Moll
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Robert Schumann: Klavierquintett Es-Dur op. 44 (1842)
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, Carolin Widmann, Pauline Sachse, David McCarroll
Theater der Stadt Schweinfurt, Germany
Edward Elgar: Quintett für Klavier und Streichquartett op. 84 a-Moll
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Robert Schumann: Klavierquintett Es-Dur op. 44 (1842)
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, Carolin Widmann, Pauline Sachse, David McCarroll
Festsaal des Historischen Reitstadel, Germany
Edward Elgar: Quintett für Klavier und Streichquartett op. 84 a-Moll
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Robert Schumann: Klavierquintett Es-Dur op. 44 (1842)
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, Carolin Widmann, Pauline Sachse, David McCarroll
Jacob Music Center - Copley Symphony Hall, United States
Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 Es-Dur op. 73
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Jahja Ling
Jacob Music Center - Copley Symphony Hall, United States
Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 Es-Dur op. 73
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Jahja Ling
Jacob Music Center - Copley Symphony Hall, United States
Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 Es-Dur op. 73
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Jahja Ling
Philharmonie Berlin, Germany
Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 Es-Dur op. 73
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Andrew Manze
Philharmonie Berlin, Germany
Joseph Haas: Sonate F-Dur für Horn und Klavier op. 29
Robert Schumann: Klavierquintett Es-Dur op. 44 (1842)
Brahms Ensemble, Radek Baborák
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, United States
Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 Es-Dur op. 73
Kansas City Symphony
Johannes Debus
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, United States
Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 Es-Dur op. 73
Kansas City Symphony
Johannes Debus
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, United States
Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 Es-Dur op. 73
Kansas City Symphony
Johannes Debus
Orchestra Hall Symphony Center, United States
Robert Schumann: Novelletten für Klavier op. 21, I Markiert und kräftig, II Äußerst rasch und mit Bravour, V Rauschend und festlich, VIII Sehr lebhaft
Ludwig van Beethoven: Diabelli Variationen op. 120 (1819-23)
Konservatorium Bern, Switzerland
Paul Hindemith: Das Marienleben op. 27 für Singstimme und Klavier (1922/23)
Juliane Banse
Regentenbau Bad Kissingen, Germany
Johannes Brahms: Klavierquartett Nr. 2 A-Dur op. 26
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Robert Schumann: Klavierquartett Es-Dur op. 47 (1842)
Veronika Eberle, Tatjana Masurenko, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker
Schloss Johannisberg, Germany
Johannes Brahms: Klavierquartett Nr. 2 A-Dur op. 26
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Robert Schumann: Klavierquartett Es-Dur op. 47 (1842)
Veronika Eberle, Tatjana Masurenko, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker
Hindsgavl Slot Middelfart, Denmark
Johannes Brahms: Klavierquartett Nr. 2 A-Dur op. 26
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Robert Schumann: Klavierquartett Es-Dur op. 47 (1842)
Veronika Eberle, Tatjana Masurenko, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker
Wigmore Hall, United Kingdom
Johannes Brahms: Klavierquartett Nr. 2 A-Dur op. 26
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Robert Schumann: Klavierquartett Es-Dur op. 47 (1842)
Veronika Eberle, Tatjana Masurenko, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker
Pittville Pump Room, United Kingdom
Johannes Brahms: Klavierquartett Nr. 2 A-Dur op. 26
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Robert Schumann: Klavierquartett Es-Dur op. 47 (1842)
Veronika Eberle, Tatjana Masurenko, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker
Das Kurhaus Wiesbaden, Germany
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonate für Klavier und Violine Nr. 8 G-Dur op. 30/3 (1802)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonate für Klavier und Violine Nr. 9 A-Dur op. 47 (1802-03) ("Kreutzer-Sonate")
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonate für Klavier und Violine Nr. 10 G-Dur op. 96 (1812) Erzherzogssonate
Frank-Peter Zimmermann
Kirche Zweisimmen, Switzerland
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonate für Klavier und Violine Nr. 8 G-Dur op. 30/3 (1802)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonate für Klavier und Violine Nr. 9 A-Dur op. 47 (1802-03) ("Kreutzer-Sonate")
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonate für Klavier und Violine Nr. 10 G-Dur op. 96 (1812) Erzherzogssonate
Frank-Peter Zimmermann
Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore
Johannes Brahms: Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 2 B-Dur op. 83
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Hans Graf
Oslo Konserthus, Norway
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Klavierkonzert Nr. 22 Es-Dur KV 482
David Afkham
Rathaus Markkleeberg, Großer Lindensaal, Germany
Franz Schubert: Klaviertrio B-Dur D 898 op. posth. 99
Franz Schubert: Klaviertrio Es-Dur D 929 op. 100
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, Antje Weithaas
Dom zu Speyer, Germany
Paul Hindemith: Das Marienleben op. 27 für Singstimme und Klavier (1922/23)
Juliane Banse
Kölner Philharmonie, Germany
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Klavierkonzert Nr. 22 Es-Dur KV 482
Kölner Kammerorchester
Christoph Poppen
Flagey, Belgium
Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 C-Dur op. 15
Brussels Philharmonic
Hervé Niquet
Concertgebouw Brugge vzw, Belgium
Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 C-Dur op. 15
Brussels Philharmonic
Hervé Niquet
Beethoven – Concerto pour piano n°3, Premier mouvement
Martin Helmchen
Verbier Festival:
Martin Helmchen plays Liszt and Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Diabelli Variations in C Major, op.120
Alpha-Classics.com
Released: 2017
Antje Weithaas, violin
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, violoncello
Martin Helmchen, piano
Piano Trio No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 100, D. 929
Arpeggione Sonata, D. 821
Alpha Classics / Outhere Music France
Released: October 2017
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Isabelle Faust, violin
Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello
Martin Helmchen, piano
Ludwig von Beethoven
Concerto for Pianoforte, Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra C major op. 56 “Tripel Concerto”
Symphony No.5 C minor op.67
accentus music ACC20411
DVD Released: 2017
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker – cello
Martin Helmchen – piano
Cello Sonata No.1 in e minor, OP.38
Cello Sonata No.2 in f major, OP.99
Alpha Classics
Released: 2016
Martin Helmchen – piano
Orchestra de la Suisse Romande
Marek Janowski – conductor
Vincent d’Indy, Symphonie sur un chant montagnard français
Camille Saint- Saens, Symphony No. 2 in A minor Op. 55 (1859)
Ernest Chausson, Soir de fête 14. 42 & Symphonic poem Op. 32
PTC 5186 357
Released: 01.09.2011
Martin Helmchen – piano
Royal Flemish Philharmonic
Philippe Herreweghe – conductor
Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40
Rondo brilliant, Op.29
PTC 5186 366
Released: 01.09.2010
Julia Fischer – violin/ piano
Martin Helmchen – piano
Sonata for Violin and Piano in A, D.574 “Duo”
Fantasia in C, for Violin and Piano D.934
Fantasy in F minor, D. 940 (Op.103)
PTC 5186 348
Released: 01.04.2010
Martin Helmchen – piano
Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg
Marc Albrecht – conductor
Robert Schumann, Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54
Antonín Dvorák Piano Concerto in G minor, Op.33
PTC 5186 333
Released: 01.10.2009
Julia Fischer – violin
Martin Helmchen – piano
Sonata (Sonatina) for Violin and Piano No.1 in D, D.384
Sonata (Sonatina) for Violin and Piano No.2 in A minor, D.385
Sonata (Sonatina) for Violin and Piano No.3 in G minor, D.408
Rondo for Violin and Piano in B minor “Rondo Brillant”, D.895
PTC 5186 347
Released: 01.08.2009
Martin Helmchen – piano
Christian Tetzlaff – violin
Antoine Tamestit – viola
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker – violoncello
Piano Quintet in A, D.667 – “The Trout”
Variations on “Trockne Blumen” for Flute and Piano, D.802
Adagio in E flat, Op. posth. 148 D.897 “Notturno”
PTC 5186 334
Released: 01.03.2009
Sharon Kam – clarinet
Martin Helmchen – piano
Gustav Rivinius – violoncello
Sonata for clarinet and piano in f minor op. 120, No. 1
Sonata for clarinet and piano in E flat major op. 120, No. 2
Trio for piano, clarinet and violoncello in a minor op.114
Berlin Classics 0016382 BC
Released: 2009
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