Sontraud Speidel - Fanny Hensel: Character Pieces for Solo Piano

Fanny Hensel, nee Mendelssohn, sister of the composer Felix Mendelssohn, granddaughter of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, was not only a musical prodigy, an outstanding pianist and conductor, her brother's closest confidante and advisor, but probably also the most important female composer of the 19th century.

This recording with Sontraud Speidel offers mostly first recordings of some of her piano compositions and thus helps to gain a more differentiated picture of the creative abilities of this unusual woman.

[Speidel's] playing is full of conviction and Romantic flair that suits the music well. [�] As for Das Jahr, the extracts are a delight � BBC Music Magazine, 4 STARS