These works are so difficult the fact that anyone can play them at any level of proficiency deserves 5 stars and as usual Hamelin's technique is up to par, but in this release more than any other Hamelin's performance  weaknesses are appearant. He lets many of the peices flatten out from lack  of varying touch and tone, too much empasis on a constant and even texture  not enough on the shape or inner voices of the works. Sometimes it's  difficult to tell when the piece ends! And with some of the studies he has  a relapse to his abusive pedaling exhibited in "The Composer  Pianists." One gets the sense that he is driving a car, the faster he  goes the further he must depress the pedal. It's a real shame too because  he has exquisite finger work. He plays like he is ashamed of his  accomplishments. The legatoholic problems mentioned above could easily be  solved by not using such a sweet piano with a huge glowing aftersound (the  piano seemed to be tuned too high also, for my tastes) or using a single  mic closer to the piano. And you have an advanced stereo at home the  problem can be decreased by turning down the mid range. But of course  Hamelin gets the majority of the studies out without losing too much  character. Don't let this stop you from purchasing this exquisite album  though. It's a whole different view of the studies than Grante and others,  just sometimes a boring one.