Heather Schmidt - Icicles of Fire - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Album Tracks 1. Sprint 2. Chaconne 3. Solus 4. Star Burning Blue 5. Danse Sauvage 6. I. a Purcell Fantazia Upon One Note 7. II. a Schumann Thumb-Piano 8. III. a Chopin White-Key Study in African Mode

It is only relatively recently that Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel has stepped out of the shadow of her more famous sibling Felix. Nearly all of her five hundred or so compositions remained unpublished during her lifetime, despite their undeniable beauty, lyricism and passion. This volume of piano music spans almost her entire adult life, from youthful experiments to music written less than a year before her untimely death, giving the listener a whirlwind tour of a much-underrated composer. Album Tracks 1. Allegro Molto in C minor 00 03 26 2. Notturno in G minor 00 04 42 3. I. Allegro Moderato E Con Espressione 00 05 32 4. II. Andante Con Moto 00 04 34 5. III. Finale Presto 00 03 39 6. Lied in E - Flat Major 00 07 11 7. I. Allegro Molto Agitato 00 04 02 8. II. Scherzo 00 03 08 9. III. Adagio 00 04 36 10. IV. Finale Presto 00 05 54 11. Adagio in E - Flat Major 00 03 53 12. Andante Con Moto in E Major 00 05 43 13. Sonata O Capriccio 00 07 01 14. Allegro Molto Agitato in D minor 00 01 46 15. Schluss 00 02 18

Heather Schmidt, one of the most gifted virtuoso pianists and finest composers of her generation, is recognized as one of the few contemporary classical musicians to follow in the tradition of famous composer-pianists such as Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff. Her compositions have been described as bold and confident, evocative, striking, intriguing, and seamlessly crafted, her performances riveting, rich, colorful, technically exact, powerful and sensitive. This CD marks the first time outside of the concert hall that listeners will be able to experience the fascination and flair of Schmidt performing Schmidt.