Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was considered one of the greatest pianists of the 19th century, achieving legendary status for his performances and improvisations.
Composer Biography
As a child prodigy, Mendelssohn was compared to a second Mozart by Goethe and Heine, and Robert Schumann called him the Mozart of the 19th century.
Critical Reception
Mendelssohn's reputation was undermined in the 20th century by factors including a reaction against Victorianism and the banning of his music by the Nazis.
Compositional Technique
The Étude in F minor, WoO1, uses a 'three-hand technique' where the melody is in the middle register, shared by both hands, while surrounded by bass and treble figures.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mendelssohn was generally reluctant to title his Lieder ohne Worte (Songs Without Words), preferring them to be autonomous musical statements.
Composition History
The little-known Lied in F sharp minor was originally a piano piece but was later refashioned by Mendelssohn into a duet with words by his friend Karl Klingemann.
Performer Biography
Howard Shelley, the pianist on this recording, often performs in the combined role of conductor and soloist.
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