Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel Piano Trio in D Minor, Op. 11

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805-1847)
Piano Trio in D Minor, Op. 11
I. Allegro molto vivace
II. Andante espressivo
III. Lied - Allegretto
IV. Finale - Allegro moderato
Performers:
Mendelssohn Piano Trio
Ya-Ting Chang, piano / Peter Sirotin, violin / Fiona Thompson, cello
Venu:
Messiah College
Calvin & Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts,
High Foundation Recital Hall
Date:
February 24, 2019
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel composed over 460 pieces of music, yet she had to publish some of her work under her brother’s well-established name. Her performance of Bach’s 24 Preludes and Fugues at age 18, which would be still considered a monumental accomplishment today, received the highest praise possible in her day. In his 1831 letter to Goethe, her teacher, Carl Friedrich Zelter said that “she plays like a man!”
Felix Mendelssohn benefited greatly from her advice, but while he respected her musicianship, he also said: “From my knowledge of Fanny I should say that she has neither inclination nor vocation for authorship. She is too much all that a woman ought to be for this. She regulates her house, and neither thinks of the public nor of the musical world, nor even of music at all, until her first duties are fulfilled. Publishing would only disturb her in these, and I cannot say that I approve of it.”