Mendelssohn

For his latest release, he is turning his attention to Mendelssohn's two piano concertos in G minor and D minor. To complement the two piano concertos, Jan Lisiecki has additionally recorded three solo works by Mendelssohn that are precisely attuned to these concertos: with their rapid shifts between contrastive characters, the masterly Variations sérieuses hark back effortlessly to the Second Piano Concerto's whimsical opening movement, while the brilliance and elfin lightness of the Rondo capriccioso recalls the virtuoso final movements of both concertos. The cantabile melodies of the wistfully beautiful "Venetian Gondola Song" from his famous Songs Without Words, finally, will remind listeners of the Andante from the First Piano Concerto.

"All three pieces are among Mendelssohn's finest works for the solo instrument," Lisiecki explains. "I was delighted to have the opportunity to record them for this album, and thus give listeners further insight into the composer's colourful and inventive keyboard writing."