Alfred Cortot: Mendelssohn Variations sérieuses, Op.54

Felix Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses in D minor, Op.54 - Alfred Cortot, piano (1952) --- When Cortot was in Japan in 1952, he made a number of recordings which seem to be virtually unknown elsewhere. Most notable among these are his only recordings of two Chopin Scherzi. They also include many fascinating performances of other works, often in significantly different interpretations than earlier in his career. Although Cortot made his second recording of Mendelssohn's Variations sérieuses just two years earlier in 1950, this last recording has enormous vitality, with each variation strongly characterized and naturally leading to the next. ---