Felix Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words

Betrand Chamayou was dealing with turbulent emotions when he recorded Felix Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words. The French pianist’s personal troubles proved a blessing to his interpretation of music that is all too often dismissed as emotionally slight, a charge that appears ludicrous considering these impassioned yet exquisitely refined performances. What emerges here, beyond Chamayou’s infinitely subtle singing line and unwavering focus, is the depth of feeling present within these 48 pieces, each with its own expressive character and “voice”. There’s so much more to this set than the handful—the charming No. 4 from Book I and “Spring Song” from Book V among them—used as standard measures of almost every intermediate classical piano student’s progress. Chamayou reveals Mendelssohn’s inner world, a private space filled with nostalgia, melancholy, fears and hopes. Listen to “Agitato” from Book III, the two reflective tracks that follow it, and the haunting “Trauermarsch” from Book V for a sense of the breadth of meaning evoked by music minus words. Our Favourite Track: Still waters run deep indeed in the “Venetian Boat Song” from Book V, which you’ll find on Track 5, Disc 2. Chamayou’s enchanting phrasing and dramatic contrasts magnify the sadness of Mendelssohn’s lilting melody.