Book I, Op. 19b Nos 1, 2, 3 ‘Hunting Song’, 4
Book II, Op. 30 Nos 3, 4
Book III, Op. 38 Nos 2, 6 ‘Duet'
Book IV, Op. 53 Nos 2, 4 (‘Evening Song’), 5 ‘Folk Song’
Book V, Op. 62 Nos 1, 3 ‘Funeral March’, 4, 5 ‘Venetian Gondola Song’, 6 (‘Spring Song’)
Book VI, Op. 67 Nos 1, 2, 3, 4 (‘Spinning Song’), 5
Book VIII, Op. 102 Nos 1, 2, 6

Rondo capriccioso, Op. 14
Trois Fantaisies ou Caprices, Op. 16

Peter Donohoe CBE is acclaimed as one of the foremost pianists of our time, for his musicianship, stylistic versatility, and commanding technique. On this first volume of Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words, he writes: ‘When I first became conscious of my desire to be a musician, Mendelssohn meant more to me, personally, than almost any other composer – he certainly ranked alongside Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert.

My choice of programme for the present recording is based around a large selection from the Lieder ohne Worte, which I preface with the Rondo capriccioso, Op. 14 and the three wonderful Fantaisies ou Caprices. The Rondo capriccioso and Trois Fantaisies ou Caprices are exquisite examples of the extraordinary facility of Mendelssohn (implicitly as a pianist, but also as a composer), of his originality and inspiration, at an age that allows us, in my view, to place him in the same group of wonderfully natural and prodigious composers as Haydn and Mozart. It is always a pleasure to play these works, and they go to the heart of why I became a musician in the first place.’

---

Recording: Potton Hall, Dunwich, Suffolk; 4 – 6 May 2021. Piano: Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano (serial no. 592 087) courtesy of Potton Hall