Felix Mendelssohn - Songs Without Words (Bertrand Chamayou)

Information

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

CD1

• Songs Without Words, Book I, Op. 19b
• Songs Without Words, Book II, Op. 30
• Songs Without Words, Book III, Op. 38
• Songs Without Words, Book IV, Op. 53

CD2

• Songs Without Words, Book V, Op. 62
• Songs Without Words, Book VI, Op. 67
• Songs Without Words, Book VII, Op. 85
• Songs Without Words, Book VIII, Op. 102

Bertrand Chamayou, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Warner Classics

_____________________

Following his 2026 Gramophone Award win alongside Leif Ove Andsnes, French pianist Bertrand Chamayou presents an extraordinary new Erato recording of Felix Mendelssohn’s complete Songs Without Words. Moving past the historical underappreciation of these forty-eight miniatures, Chamayou tackles their nuanced technical challenges with remarkable vocal phrasing, exquisite voice-leading, and judicious rubato. From the sparkling agility of the Spinnerlied to the evocative depth of the Venetian Gondola Song and Trauermarsch, Chamayou’s masterful dynamic control and atmospheric nuance fully capture the distinct character of each piece. Superior to classic surveys, this finely recorded Steinway Model D release stands as an essential library choice.

Bertrand Chamayou, born in Toulouse in 1981, is a French pianist celebrated for his interpretations of Romantic music and contemporary works. A three-time winner of France’s Victoire de la Musique Classique, he studied at the Toulouse Conservatory and Paris Conservatory under Jean-François Heisser, later receiving guidance from Maria Curcio, Leon Fleisher, Dmitri Bashkirov, and Murray Perahia. Chamayou has performed with major orchestras worldwide, including the Gewandhaus Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra, and appeared at prestigious festivals such as Mostly Mozart and Edinburgh International. He is also a dedicated chamber musician and has recorded extensively for Naïve, Sony Classical, and Erato, earning critical acclaim for works by Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Messiaen, and Satie.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz