Mendelssohn: Songs without words, Vol. 2

Featuring

Peter Donohoe
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

Did you know?

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Cultural Impact

Mendelssohn's "Lieder ohne Worte" became immensely popular, prompting similar volumes from other composers, most notably Edvard Grieg's "Lyriske Stykker" (Lyric Pieces).

Performer Biography

Peter Donohoe, the pianist on this album, is acclaimed as one of the foremost pianists of our time, known for his musicianship, stylistic versatility, and commanding technique.

Composition History

Mendelssohn invented the generic title "Lieder ohne Worte" (Songs without Words) for his piano pieces, which he began collecting and publishing in batches of six in 1832.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Mendelssohn seemed to favor the piano as a social, participatory instrument, focusing on music-making in recital halls, salons, drawing rooms, or bourgeois parlors.

Composer Biography

Felix Mendelssohn was not only a prodigious composer, fine violinist, and leading conductor, but also an exceptional pianist who could play much of his repertoire from memory.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded using 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.

Critical Reception

The "Lieder ohne Worte" were dismissed as superficial and sentimental when Mendelssohn went out of fashion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but have been re-evaluated as lyric gems in recent decades.