Felix and Fanny
Olga Pashchenko – fortepiano
Since many centuries keyboard players have been aspiring to sing on their instruments. The importance of eloquence and singing was underlined by Bach, Chopin and many others. Mendelssohn’s “Lieder ohne Worte” present a perfect possibility for a keyboardist to become a real singers. Every miniature tells us it’s own exciting story. And the story of the Mendelssohn’s family was no less exciting. Felix is a very well known prolific composer, while his sister Fanny has always stayed in the brother’s shadow. Being a woman she was not supposed to be a professional musician and therefore publish her compositions. That’s why some of the Felix’ works later turned out to be Fanny’s. And some she published under her brother’s name. Nevertheless, her music sounds as fresh and exquisite.
This program therefore presents a selection of the siblings’ works – Songs without words by Felix and Songs for pianoforte by Fanny.
It is played on an original Graf from 1836 – such an instrument may very well have been used by the Mendelssohns – from the Geelvinck collection in the Luther Museum Amsterdam.
26.11.21 at 18.00 online-concert
Since many centuries keyboard players have been aspiring to sing on their instruments. The importance of eloquence and singing was underlined by Bach, Chopin and many others. Mendelssohn’s “Lieder ohne Worte” present a perfect possibility for a keyboardist to become a real singers. Every miniature tells us it’s own exciting story. And the story of the Mendelssohn’s family was no less exciting. Felix is a very well known prolific composer, while his sister Fanny has always stayed in the brother’s shadow. Being a woman she was not supposed to be a professional musician and therefore publish her compositions. That’s why some of the Felix’ works later turned out to be Fanny’s. And some she published under her brother’s name. Nevertheless, her music sounds as fresh and exquisite.
This program therefore presents a selection of the siblings’ works – Songs without words by Felix and Songs for pianoforte by Fanny.
It is played on an original Graf from 1836 – such an instrument may very well have been used by the Mendelssohns – from the Geelvinck collection in the Luther Museum Amsterdam.
Felix Mendelssohn and Fanny Mendelssohn/Hensel
Songs without words for pianoforte
Felix (Songs without words)
op.19b:
3.Molto allegro e vivace (A major)
5.Poco agitato (F♯ minor)
op.30:
1.Andante espressivo (E♭ major)
2. Allegro di molto (B♭ minor)
6. Allegretto tranquillo: Venetianisches Gondellied (F♯ minor)
Fanny (Songs for pianoforte)
op.2, 1 Lied. Andante
op.2, 3 Villa Mills. Allegretto grazioso
Felix
op.38, 5. Agitato (A minor)
op.62, 3. Andante maestoso: Trauermarsch (“Funeral march”) (E minor)
op.62, 6. Allegretto grazioso: Frühlingslied (“Spring Song”) (A major)
Fanny
op.8
1.Lied. Allegro moderato
2. Lied. Andante con espressione
3. Lied. Larghetto
Felix
op.67, 2. Allegro leggiero (F♯ minor)
Fanny
op.6, 3. O Traum der Jugend, o goldner Stern. Andante cantabile
Felix
op.38, 2. Allegro non troppo (C minor)
op.38, 4. Presto: Spinnerlied (“Spinner’s Song”) (C major)
Felix
op.102, 1 Andante un poco agitato (E minor)
op.19b, 6 Andante sostenuto: Venetianisches Gondellied (G minor)
Fanny
op.6, 4. Il Saltarello Romano. Tarantella. Allegro molto