Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Orchestral Works arr. by the Composer for Piano for 4 Hands

Featuring

Franziska Lee
Sontraud Speidel
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

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Recording & Production

This album features first recordings of some of Mendelssohn's orchestral works in their four-hand piano arrangements.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Both Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Johannes Brahms created their own four-hand arrangements of their orchestral works to ensure artistic authenticity and prevent inadequate versions by other arrangers.

Recording & Production

All four-hand arrangements of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's orchestral works on this recording were made by the composer himself.

Historical Context

Four-hand piano arrangements of orchestral works were crucial for disseminating music in the 19th century, as printed orchestral scores were expensive and orchestras were not widely available.

Performer Biography

Franziska Lee, a South Korean pianist, is a prize-winner of numerous international competitions and is particularly dedicated to Franz Schubert's piano sonatas.

Compositional Technique

The four-hand piano genre, which allows two performers to play on one keyboard, emerged in the late 18th century with the rise of the pianoforte.

Performer Biography

Sontraud Speidel, a pianist described as 'the Clara Schumann of today,' has performed worldwide and recorded over 50 albums, some of which have received awards like the Echo Klassik Prize.