Album Leaf: Piano Works by Felix Mendelssohn

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Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was an illustrious composer, pianist, organist, violinist, conductor, teacher, and benevolent patron of musicians. He is the one who brought J. S. Bach back from oblivion. His contributions to the musical world were so profound that Robert Schumann hailed him as “the Mozart of the nineteenth century, the most brilliant musician, the one who most clearly sees through the contradictions of the age and for the first time reconciles them.”

The album presents a collection of seldom-performed compositions that demand extraordinary virtuosity and resonate with profound emotional depth. Each piece captivates with its rich palette of tonal colors and textures, ranging from poetic introspection and serenity to intense tragedy and overwhelming drama. These works offer a powerful exploration of both intimately personal and universal human experience.

Personal Connection and Thoughts

I have always enjoyed Mendelssohn’s music, but lately it grabbed me by its sincere expressivity, heart-melting spontaneously flowing melodies and fiery passion of Romanticism–all perfectly balanced in the Classical tradition.

Beauty, love of life, kindness, optimism, and even light humor permeate Mendelssohn’s compositions, balancing his expression of tragedy, deep drama and despair. Mendelssohn’s grandfather was the renowned philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, the model for Lessing’s Nathan the Wise – embodiment of tolerance in the intolerant world. I think, Felix had inherited that view of the world, which makes his music so relevant and special for our time.

Tracks

Fantasia in F-Sharp minor, Op. 28 (Sonate ecossaise)

I. Con moto agitato

II. Allegro con moto

III. Presto

Albumblatt (Album Leaf) in E minor, Op. 117, “Lied ohne Worte”

Caprice in A Minor, Op. 33 No. 1

Variations Serieuses, Op. 54

- - - - Theme: Andante sostenuto
        
        Variation 1
        
        Variation 2: Un poco più animato
        
        Variation 3: Più animato
        
        Variation 4
        
        Variation 5: Agitato
        
        Variation 6: A tempo
        
        Variation 7: Con fuoco
        
        Variation 8: Allegro vivace
        
        Variation 9
        
        Variation 10: Moderato
        
        Variation 11: Cantabile
        
        Variation 12: Tempo del Tema
        
        Variation 13: Sempre assai leggiero
        
        Variation 14: Adagio
        
        Variation 15: Poco a poco più agitato
        
        Variation 16: Allegro vivace
        
        Variation 17
        
        Coda: Presto

Three Etudes, Op. 104b:

No. 1 in B-flat minor – Presto sempre

No. 2 in F major – Allegro con moto

No. 3 in A minor – Allegro vivace

Etude in F minor, WoO 1 – Presto agitato

Rondo Capriccioso in E major, Op. 14

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Press

“Agranovich is the great tragedian of the piano… Her feeling for tragedy makes the music sound almost overwhelming in its intensity.”

“She reconnects with the music in a way that suggests a feeling of tragedy under the surface gaiety….she elevates all of this music from the realm of nice entertainment to that of great tragic art. “

“Every note is imbued with feeling; indeed, the opening movement is so expressively played that you almost feel like crying, so deep is her emotional commitment…”

“She plays with rich detail, bringing out moments that pass the ears unnoticed in the hands of other players… a performing style that relishes the moment as much as the overall conception.”

“Agranovich brings this sonata-fantasia into line with some of Beethoven’s and Schubert’s most deeply felt compositions.”

“I really enjoyed the Album Leaf from the “Songs Without Words” more than I can recall enjoying any performance of any of them in the past—again, because Agranovich digs deep into the music’s emotion.”

“No matter how familiar or unfamiliar you are with these works, you’ll find something new and emotionally moving in all of them. Even the rapid Étude No. 2 of the three Op. 104b set, rushes forward with an almost overwhelming rush of emotion in a piece that, being fast-paced, is normally played in a glib style by other pianists. I was deeply impressed by every piece on this album; as a whole, it presents a Mendelssohn recital you will not soon forget.”

– Lynn René Bayley, Art Music Lounge Read complete review

“…Once again, Agranovich’s grasp of architecture and proportion, elegance and beauty of phrasing, and clear articulation provide considerable pleasure. And once again, I find myself especially gravitating toward the moments that allow Agranovich’s poetic impulses to shine their brightest. Lovely recorded sound and Agranovich’s fine liner notes enhance this project. A most enjoyable recital.”

– Ken Meltzer, Fanfare Read complete review

“Sizzling performance… Agranovich conjures up a memory palace of a performance with senses and flavours of the ethereal, in a passionate manifestation that exudes copious amounts of both warmth and love…”

“…Packed with mixed emotions, moods and feelings, as the moods are manifested in music and build upon a narrative of romance, passion and conflict.”

“A wonderful delight, perfectly played by the pianist…Agranovich feels each and every note played, with a sublime attractive and intelligent performance.”

“Album Leaf: Piano Works by Felix Mendelssohn by Sophia Agranovich is classically stunning. It’s a vast body of work that has been presented and played with such precision and craft by the artist. Sophia is without doubt one of the most accomplished classical pianists of her day, and here on this brand new collection of works by Mendelssohn, she shines like the midday sun. This album is guaranteed to be a sure fire hit with listeners and classical music aficionados alike the globe over”.

– Steve Sheppard, OneWorld Music Radio Read complete review

“…She understands the depth Mendelssohn can achieve (evident immediately from the opening “con moto agitato” of the op. 28 Fantasia, while she is as fleet-fingered as they come in both the Allegro con moto and the moto perpetuo concluding Presto… Agranovich projects the music’s warp and weft with real musicality…elfin when required, playful and raising a smile, legato and lyrical elsewhere…She dares to give the melody space in the first (B flat-Minor) despite the “Presto sempre” marking, and it works well… Agranovich has a fine sense of the overall architecture of the work, which means we hear a connected flow of variegated colors.”

– Colin Clarke, Fanfare Read complete review

“…Complex, exhilarating and challenging allegro of incredible virtuosity. One can barely catch one’s breath during and after hearing and witnessing such expressive phrasing… Flowing, effervescent rendering…spectacular execution… Ms. Agranovich’s version is sharper than a knife with virtuosic execution. Under her charge, the piece is elaborate with detail and bold in execution. She implements Mendelssohn’s routine of his verbosity of notes, even when a simple stanza might tell the whole story, translating it with a rich complexity that earns more than a mere “Brava”.

– R J Lannan, Artisan Music Reviews Read complete review

“Performed to perfection… A wide range of emotions – from grief to exhilaration – a musical thrill ride for sure! Dazzling…powerful and inspiring!”

– Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano Read complete review

“She can spin a legato, sensitive melody and sort out contrapuntal voices. Her facile technique is perfect for the music here. The well-written and detailed booklet essay is also provided by the pianist.”

“Five stars: A wonderful Mendelssohn recital with a wide range of pieces, all in strong and exciting performances.”

–James Harrington, Fanfare Read complete review

“…Played with a scintillating sense of humor, especially in the closing presto. The Variations Serieuses hardly an unknown piece also does very well in her sympathetic hands.”

“Several etudes put her technical skills to the test, and they are definitely not found wanting. Nor is the ever popular Rondo Capriccioso along with the similarly structured Caprice Op. 33:1… A fine-sounding Steinway D and excellent notes by the pianist make this highly recommendable, if not revelatory.”

–Alan Becker, American Record Guide Read complete review

“Sophia Agranovich always surprises and never disappoints…”

“Her fingers move so fast they’re probably a visual blur, but there’s no audible blur in her playing. Every note of every sweeping arpeggio across the keyboard and every note of every run is perfectly weighted and clear as a bell. This is remarkable playing…there’s some really gorgeous music on this disc. The Rondo Capriccioso in E Major, with which Agranovich ends her program, takes a page out of Chopin for its opening statement, but Mendelssohn can’t resist the temptation to take Chopin on a magical tour of his forest of elves, faeries, and leprechauns.”

“…I have an even greater appreciation for Sophia Agranovich’s ease of execution and shimmering beauty of tone. Played with consummate technical skill and artistry, this well-chosen program of Mendelssohn’s solo piano pieces can be unreservedly recommended to all audiences.”

– Jerry Dubins, Fanfare Read complete review

“It’s grand. It’s untouchable. It’s…magnificent. Looking for a piano virtuoso who can truly interpret the work of a hallowed classical master? Pining for playing on a level that seems, sadly, to fade as technology replaces creativity? Then you NEED to purchase Album Leaf – Piano Works by Felix Mendelssohn by Sophia Agranovich. It’s almost more than human ears deserve.”

– The Ark of Music Read complete review

“Mesmerizing, dynamically performed… each piece finds Sophia captivating our senses with an intricate palette of tonal colors and textures… She moves artfully and seamlessly from gently poetic introspection and eloquent serenity to a sense of intense, overwhelming tragedy and drama.”

-Jonathan Widran, The JWVibe Read complete review

“I am simply mesmerized by Sophia Agranovich’s tremendous talent, virtuosity, emotional involvement and thorough musicianship. Fanfare magazine calls her a “tigress of the keyboard” and I could listen to her for hours..Her virtuosity immediately becomes evident in the extremely difficult last movement Presto of the Fantasia in F-sharp Minor…executed in a lovely singing tone, with virtuosity and elegance…”

“I cannot recommend it highly enough.”

– Janos Gardonyi, The Whole Note Read complete review

“…Combination of excellent technique and strong musical personality…crystalline clarity of textures with a natural gift for shaping melodies. She has a good instinct about when to add a touch of urgency to a phrase and when to relax the pace. Most importantly, she is willing to take interpretive risks. Rubato is generously applied to the first movement of the Fantasia in f-sharp minor without ever disturbing the flow of the music—forward motion is maintained. In the third-movement Presto the clarity of her fingerwork is breathtaking, exhibiting pinpoint control of dynamics.”

“She makes the keyboard sing with a pearly legato that belies the fact that the piano is basically a percussion instrument. The remaining short works are equally effective thanks to her ability to balance freedom and discipline.”

“The range of moods encompassed is enormous, and Agranovich slights none of them. Her performance has passion, humor, beauty, and above all, deep conviction. The recorded sound of her Steinway D is natural and full, and her program notes are illuminating.”

Five stars: A superlative recital of piano music by Mendelsohn

– Henry Fogel, Fanfare Magazine Read complete review