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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Mendelssohn - Piano Works
Wolfram Smitt-Leonardy (piano) Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47) was one of the most gifted of all composers. A child prodigy born to a wealthy banking family in Berlin, he matured musically at an incredible rate – and was composing music in his ‘mature’ style by the age of 15 – something not even Mozart achieved. Like Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt, he was a formidable pianist, and his style as a pianist was influenced by composers such as Hummel, Thalberg, Moscheles and Weber. His two mature piano concertos ( a third has just been discovered), are brilliant compositions for the instrument, and novel in structure, with the 3 movements linked. His music for solo piano contains some remarkable music, especially the Op. 54 Variations, his greatest work for solo piano – it is brilliantly conceived and executed, highly virtuosic, harmonically and thematically daring piece. The other works on this CD illustrate both the virtuosic and the more reflective facets of Mendelssohn’s writing for piano. The capriccios reflect the popular taste at the time for works with a slow romantic introduction followed by a dashing finale. Op.72 Kinderstücke are very different from Schumann’s Kinderszenen. These are idyllic, gentle pieces, and have a fairy-tale quality to them. | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Mendelssohn: Piano Music Vol. 2
“Frith is a powerful player...This is music of substance and Frith gives it its due.” BBC Music Magazine “The multiplicity of notes in Mendelssohn's piano music sometimes lays him open to the charge of 'note-spinning'. So what higher praise for Benjamin Frith than to say that thanks to his fluency, not a single work outstays its welcome here. The unchallengeable masterpiece is the Variations sérieuses, so enthusiastically taken up by Clara Schumann, and still a repertory work today. Frith characterises each variation with telling contrasts of tempo and touch without sacrificing the continuity and unity of the whole.
Equally importantly, he never lets us forget the sérieuses of the title.
No less impressive is his sensitively varied palette in the early E-major Sonata (unmistakable homage to Beethoven's Op-101) so often helped by subtle pedalling. But surely the recitative of the Adagio at times needs just a little more intensity and underlying urgency. Of the miniatures the six Kinderstücke ('Christmas Pieces' – written for the children of a friend) emerge with an unforced charm. As music they lack the romance of Schumann's ventures into a child's world, just as the Three Studies do of Chopin's magical revelations in this sphere. However, Frith's fingers never let him down. In the first B-flat Study he even seems to acquire a third hand to sustain its middle melody.
For sheer seductive grace, the independent Gondellied haunts the memory most of all.
With pleasantly natural sound, too, this disc is quite a bargain.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | (also available to download from $6.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Mendelssohn: Piano Works
Felix Mendelssohn was a virtuoso pianist, and it is worth remembering that he was born in 1809, with his friend Schumann being born a year later in 1810, as was Chopin, and Liszt following in 1811. These composers were among the greatest pianists of the 19th century, and they were born at a time when the piano was a relatively modern instrument, and composers such as Hummel, Moscheles (Mendelssohn’s friend), Kalkbrenner and Ries were accorded adulation similar to pop stars today. Beethoven commenced his career in the 1790s as a virtuoso pianist. No surprise then that the young Mendelssohn composed extensively for his chosen instrument from the outset. From early concertos and sonatas he quickly established his ‘mature’ style in works such as the Rondo capriccioso, and the Andante cantabile e Presto agitato. The masterpieces that followed include the remarkably imposing Variations serieuses and the famous Songs without Words. Mendelssohn’s style did not change throughout his short creative life – he very quickly composed in what we know as his mature style from his early teens, something even Mozart didn’t achieve. This 4CD contains the Songs without Words, Variations serieuse, Kinderstucke, Rondo capriccioso, Capriccio, and Trois Fantasies ou Caprices plus several shorter works. | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Mendelssohn: Complete Piano Music
Mendelssohn: | Caprices Nos 1-3, Op. 33 (Complete) Capriccio in F sharp minor, Op. 5 Capriccio in E major, Op. 118 Scherzo in B minor Scherzo a capriccio in F sharp minor Andante and Rondo capriccioso in E major Op. 14 Perpetuum mobile in C major, Op. 119 2 Klavierstucke Andante Cantabile and Presto Agitato Piano Sonata in B flat major, Op. 106 Piano Sonata in E major, Op. 6 Kinderstücke (6), Op. 72 'Christmas Pieces' Preludes & Fugues (6) for piano, Op. 35 (complete) Prelude & Fugue for piano in E minor, Op. 35 No. 1 3 Preludes, Op. 104a 3 Etudes, Op. 104b Etude in F minor Variations sérieuses in D minor Op. 54 3 Fantasies (or Caprices) Op. 16 Variations in B flat major, Op. 83 Fantasia on "The Last Rose of Summer", Op. 15 Songs without Words Books 1-8 (complete) Characteristic Pieces (7), Op. 7 Gondellied (Barcarolle) in A Albumblatt in E minor, Op. 117 |
Recorded at Nimbus Studios, Birmingham, Nimbus Records, Wyastone Leys, Monmouth between 1972 and 1979. “Martin Jones' musicianship is perhaps seen at its best in his playing of the 'Songs Without Words'. For many years Mendelssohn's music for the keyboard was neglected but this six CD set, so beautifully played by Martin Jones, will do much to earn Mendelssohn's music for the keyboard the attention it deserves.” Contemporary Review | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Mendelssohn - Complete Piano Works
Mendelssohn: | Songs without Words Books 1-8 (complete) Piano Sonata in B flat major, Op. 106 Piano Sonata in E major, Op. 6 Piano Sonata in G minor, Op. 105 Piano Sonata Movement in B flat minor Preludes & Fugues (6) for piano, Op. 35 (complete) Kinderstücke (6), Op. 72 'Christmas Pieces' Caprices Nos 1-3, Op. 33 (Complete) Characteristic Pieces (7), Op. 7 3 Fantasies (or Caprices) Op. 16 Variations in B flat major, Op. 83 Variations in E flat major, Op. 82 Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 Fortepianotrio Florestan Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66 Fortepianotrio Florestan 3 Preludes, Op. 104a 3 Etudes, Op. 104b Etude in F minor Rondo capriccioso in E major, Op. 14 Capriccio in F sharp minor, Op. 5 Scherzo in B minor Scherzo a capriccio in F sharp minor Fantasia on "The Last Rose of Summer", Op. 15 2 Klavierstucke Fantasia in F sharp minor, Op. 28 Variations sérieuses in D minor Op. 54 Andante Cantabile and Presto Agitato Capriccio in E major, Op. 118 Perpetuum mobile in C major, Op. 119 Albumblatt in E minor, Op. 117 |
Dana Protopopescu (piano) Released to commemorate the forthcoming anniversary of Mendelssohn in 2009, this 8 CD set features the piano works. The works on these discs exude flowing elegance and pianistic brilliance. Songs Without Words display flowing lyricism combined with appealing melody and the character pieces, fantasias, capriccios, preludes, studies and other works demand a good deal of dexterity. As a soloist and chamber musician, Dana Protopopescu has captivated audiences worldwide. Previous recordings won her the highest acclaim in press reviews by the Penguin Guide and Diapason France. Among other awards, she has received the Music Critic Award in Bucharest. | | | (also available to download from $32.50) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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