Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

Riko Fukuda

19,9928,49
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Original Recording Format: DSD 64
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As was usual for sons of well to do families in the 18th and 19th century, Felix Mendelssohn also left the Berlin parental home in April 1829 and set out on a journey through Europe to broaden his horizon. Even before the summer he and his friend and travel companion Karl Klingemann arrived in Edinburgh and from there they toured Scotland and sailed along the coast. Felix was struck by the wild Scottish sea- and landscapes and made drawings and water colours. But also the Hebrides Ouverture and Symphony no. 3 (the Scottish) are memorable fruits. Before his travels Mendelssohn had already started to compose the Fantasy in F sharp, which is also called Sonata écossaise (Scottish sonata), but only after the three years’ tour did he finish and publish it. The work is comprised of three parts and continues with the attacca as one big whole. Sieben Charakterstücke op.7 is an early work of Mendelssohn. He wrote it between 1824 and 1826, at the age of 15 up to 17 and dedicated it to his former piano teacher Ludwig Berger. Not all composer geniuses in musical history show such developed composition skill and musicality at such an early age as is shown in this piece. We already see the characteristics that Mendelssohn demonstrates in all works made throughout his entire life: lyrical melodies in nos. 1 and 6, restless perpetuum mobile in nos. 2, 4 and 7, and a composition in the style of J.S.Bach in 3 and 5 (Fuga).

Tracklist

Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.
1.
Fantasia Sonate Ecossaise, op.28 - Con moto agitato
05:13
2.
Fantasia Sonate Ecossaise, op.28 - Allegro con moto
02:32
3.
Fantasia Sonate Ecossaise, op.28 - Presto
06:44
4.
Sieben Characterstucke, op.7 - Sanft mit Empfindung
03:10
5.
Sieben Characterstucke, op.7 - Mit heftiger Bewegung
02:16
6.
Sieben Characterstucke, op.7 - Kraftig und feurig
03:48
7.
Sieben Characterstucke, op.7 - Schnell und beweglich
04:01
8.
Sieben Characterstucke, op.7 - FUGA: Ernst und mit steigender Lebhaftigkeit
07:54
9.
Sieben Characterstucke, op.7 - Sehnsuchtig
03:09
10.
Sieben Characterstucke, op.7 - Leicht und luftig
04:12
11.
Variations serieuses, op. 54
12:45
12.
Sechs Lieder ohne Worte, op.67 - Andante
03:07
13.
Sechs Lieder ohne Worte, op.67 - Allegro leggiero
02:23
14.
Sechs Lieder ohne Worte, op.67 - Andante tranquillo
02:38
15.
Sechs Lieder ohne Worte, op.67 - Presto
02:07
16.
Sechs Lieder ohne Worte, op.67 - Moderato
02:32
17.
Sechs Lieder ohne Worte, op.67 - Allegro non troppo
02:22

Total time: 01:10:53

Additional information

Label

SKU

ACDHJ032-2

Qualities

, ,

Channels

, ,

Artists

Composers

Genres

,

Cables

Mochami

Digital Converters

Sphinx

Mastering Engineer

Jos Boerland

Mastering Equipment

Marren Media

Microphones

DPA 4006, Neumann U87, TLM 170, KM 184

Mixing Board

Studer

Instruments

Original Recording Format

Producer

Jos Boerland

Recording Engineer

Jos Boerland

Recording location

Deventer

Recording Software

Pyramix

Recording Type & Bit Rate

DSD64

Speakers

B&W 805

Release DateSeptember 25, 2015

Press reviews

HRAudio.Net

Piano music was a mainstay of Mendelssohn’s output from childhood onwards, although in this anniversary year, record companies have paid relatively little attention to it. There are even fewer recitals recorded on pianos built by Mendelssohn’s contemporaries, so this one from fortepianist Riko Fukuda is most welcome. After studying oboe and piano in a Japanese conservatory, she left to study in The Netherlands under Stanley Hoogland at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Specializing in the fortepiano, she founded the Nepomuk Fortepiano Quintet with which she has made several recordings.

For her Mendelssohn recital, she has chosen pianos from the Edwin Beunk Collection in the Netherlands; a Graf of 1835 and an Erard of 1837, which have been lovingly restored, well-prepared, tuned and voiced. The Graf has transparency of tone and good attack which makes for precise articulation and is excellent for contrapuntal music, while the Erard has a rich singing tone and a more dramatic range of tone colours. Both instruments show the wooden-framed fortepiano characteristic of varied and almost orchestral tone colours throughout their ranges, compared with the relative tonal uniformity of modern pianos.

In recording terms, the sound of both fortepianos is strikingly realistic, the piano being placed at an ideal distance so that mechanical noises never intrude, and a subtly resonant and sympathetic acoustic allows the tone to fully develop in their tonal and dynamic ranges. Stereo DSD balance is excellent, while the 5.0 Multi-Channel adds the subtle but effective three-dimensional touch of realism that can make so much difference to enjoyment of chamber music.

This is a desirable Mendelssohn disc, with Fukuda showing her affinity for period instruments and making one want to hear more from her. If you have doubts about clattery or wobbly sounding old pianos, this recording could be the one which convinces you otherwise.

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