Marc-André Hamelin

Wed., Jan. 13, 8 p.m., $23, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-569-8080, pcmsconcerts.org.

by Peter Burwasser

classical

Former Philadelphian Marc-André Hamelin never liked to be known as a super virtuoso pianist, even though he is universally regarded as one of the most technically adroit players on the planet. His visit to the Perelman Theater this week includes music that, although extremely challenging on paper, does not tend to dazzle audiences so much as seduce and enchant them. There will be Berg's beautifully mysterious Sonata, Liszt's magnificent ooze of that same musical form, a selection of the slyly dramatic Debussy Préludes, and some new music from Hamelin himself. But don't worry; he will, in the process, get jaws to drop. It is the only way he knows to play.