Felix Mendelssohn: Orchestral Works Arr. by The Composer For Piano For 4 Hands

The four-hand versions of orchestral works by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy recorded here by Sontraud Speidel and Franziska Lee are all by the composer himself and correspond to the musical text of the first editions published during Mendelssohn's lifetime, with the sole exception of the Overture to the Singspiel Soldatenliebschaft. The five works span a period of 22 years, presenting examples of little-known music for the operatic stage and the Overture Op. 24, which is unfortunately rarely heard, with two famous pieces from Mendelssohn's mature years.

Beatrice Rana, partnered by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, performs the piano concertos of Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck-Schumann. She complements them with Liszt’s transcription for solo piano of Robert’s song ‘Widmung’, an exuberant dedication of love, composed in the year of Robert and Clara’s marriage. The previous year (1839), Robert had written to Clara: “You complete me as a composer, as I do you. Every thought of yours comes from mysoul, just as I have to thank you for all my music.”