Mendelssohn’s Masterpieces | Popular Classical Music

Piano Sonata No. 3 in B-flat major, Op. 106Felix Mendelssohn

ILSE VON ALPENHEIM plays MENDELSSOHN Piano Sonata Op.106 (1975)

This is a work Mendelssohn composed at the age of 18.

Among his sonatas, it is often performed and well loved.

Mendelssohn deeply admired Beethoven.

This piece was composed in 1827, the year Beethoven passed away, and it shares many similarities with Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata.

It has four movements, each of them superb, with an average performance time of about 20 minutes.

The first movement begins powerfully and brilliantly; the scherzo is played with lightness; the third movement sings with graceful melody.

It proceeds attacca from the third to the fourth movement, where the gentle tune is sweet and beguiling, and the work closes as if fading away with arpeggios.

In general, even Mendelssohn’s minor-key works lack a sense of tragedy or gloom; they are beautiful, fresh, and richly poetic.

Even among piano works, the difference in character stands out when compared to those of his contemporary, Chopin.

Please enjoy about 18 minutes with Ilse von Alpenheim at the piano.

Three Fantasies or Caprices, Op. 16: No. 1 in A minor/A major, MWV U 70Felix Mendelssohn

Three Fantasias, or Caprices, Op. 16 No. 1 in A minor

This is an emotionally rich piano miniature written in the summer of 1829.

It features an introspective melody that begins Andante and a lively Allegro vivace section that leaves a strong impression.

The opening calls for lyrical, elegant expression, while the middle section unfolds with vibrant, brilliant passages full of momentum.

With its classical structure beautifully balanced by Romantic sensibilities, and its melodic appeal, the piece is both approachable and comfortable to play.

With steady practice it is a work you can certainly master, making it a recommended choice for piano enthusiasts.

“Six Duets,” Op. 63, No. 4: “Song of Autumn”Felix Mendelssohn

F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy – Herbstlied

The Six Duets comprise six pieces—1.

Pour Out My Love; 2.

The Parting of the Migratory Birds; 3.

Greeting; 4.

Autumn Song; 5.

Folk Song; 6.

Lilies of the Valley and Flowers—forming a set of duets that amply demonstrates Mendelssohn’s talent as a vocal composer.

Autumn Song is a work in which Mendelssohn set a poem by Nikolaus Lenau to a beautiful melody, a masterpiece that evokes the quiet sentiment of autumn.

Ah, how swiftly the dancing circle ends, and spring turns to winter.

Ah, how quickly all joys are transformed into the silence of sorrow.

Soon the last reverberation fades, soon the last singer is gone, and dreams and love, sweet as spring, quickly vanish.

Only one thing does not disappear: longing—something that never fades.

This is the general sense of the lyrics.

Soprano: Barbara Bonney; Mezzo-soprano: Angelika Kirchschlager.

Greeting from Six Songs, Op. 19-aFelix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn: Gruß – Elisabeth Kulman

A pleasant resonance that has slipped from my heart spreads quietly.

O resonance, go far, far away—resound all the way to the house where she blooms like a flower.

And if you should meet a single rose, tell it this: it is a greeting from me.

This is a poem with such words.

It is a simple and elegant piece set to a short, romantic poem by Heinrich Heine.

Mezzo-soprano: Elisabeth Kulman; pianist: Walter Moore.

Elisabeth Kulman is an Austrian singer.

She excels in Wagner and Liszt, and also performs Beethoven’s Ninth and the Missa solemnis.

Walter Moore is a pianist who moved from the United States to Austria.

Songs Without Words, Book I, Op. 19 No. 6 “Venetian Boat Song No. 1”Felix Mendelssohn

Jan Lisiecki – Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 19: No. 6 in G Minor, “Venetian Gondola Song”

A scene of Venice painted by a master of German Romanticism.

The lilting 6/8 rhythm, reminiscent of gently rippling waves, is soothing and conjures the image of a gondola gliding quietly across the water.

Composed in October 1830, this gem is a miniature that Mendelssohn himself titled “Venetian Boat Song.” The soft accompaniment in the left hand and the singing melody in the right hand create a superb balance, drawing the listener into a dreamlike world.

While not especially demanding technically, it requires delicate touch and expressive nuance.

A masterpiece that piano enthusiasts are warmly encouraged to try.

Songs Without Words, Book V, Op. 62 No. 5, No. 3: “Venetian Boat Song”Felix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn: Venetian Boat Song No. 3 [04_Dark and Sad Sheet Music with Commentary – Classical Piano Piece]

This is a piece from Felix Mendelssohn’s celebrated collection of piano miniatures, the masterpiece “Lieder ohne Worte” Op.

62.

The 6/8 accompaniment in the left hand deftly depicts a gondola gliding along the canals of Venice, while the right hand sings a melody like a plaintive song echoing over the water.

Its appeal lies in the way it conveys a poised dignity and elegance within sorrow, rather than being merely dark.

Published in 1844, this set is dedicated to Clara Schumann.

It is recommended for those times when you don’t want to force yourself to feel cheerful, but instead wish to surrender to this beautiful melody and savor the sensation of quietly sinking into the depths of your heart.

Songs Without Words, Book II, Op. 30: No. 3 “Consolation”Felix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words, Book II “Consolation,” Op. 30 No. 3, pf. Seiko Seki

Felix Mendelssohn, the German composer, created Songs Without Words, a sparkling collection of piano miniatures that express emotion without text.

Among the 48 pieces across eight volumes, this work from the second volume is especially notable for its beautiful melody that gently sings of comfort amid sorrow.

Composed in the 1830s, it showcases Mendelssohn’s delicate sensibility to the fullest.

Its world of sound—woven from soft arpeggios and rich harmonies—embraces the listener’s heart and brings a deep sense of peace.

It’s a recommended piece for those looking to get acquainted with classical music or seeking music that soothes the soul.