Following on from the success of her acclaimed release, Donna Voce, award winning pianist Anna Shelest continues her exploration of works by women composer in Donna Voce: Volume 2 – Women of Legend. Featured are Fanny Mendelssohn’s monumental feat of imagination and virtuosity Das Jahr (The Year), Mélanie “Mel” Bonis’ suite of musical portraits Femmes de Légende (Women of Legend), and contemporary Ukrainian composer Olena Ilnytska’s evocative Nocturne 1. Hailed by The New York Times as a pianist of a fiery sensibility and warm touch, Shelest is an international award-winning pianist who has thrilled audiences throughout the world...

Once again pianist Anna Shelest delivers a collection of works from women composers who, over the years, have not been given the recognition and attention that their works rightly deserve.

This 21 track (1 hr, 16 min, 06 sec) album opens with Fanny Mendelssohn’s 13 part work 'Das Jahr' ('The Year'). This 13-movement musical calendar is one of the earliest examples of a Romantic piano cycle. For me, 'March' was one of the immediate highlights. It's rousing and instantly memorable.

Mélanie “Mel” Bonis’ suite of musical portraits 'Femmes de Légende' ('Women of Legend'), is a wonderfully complex 6-part work that is intricate and flows beautifully.

The album is rounded off with contemporary Ukrainian composer Olena Ilnytska’s evocative 'Nocturne 1' is a little more avant-garde and feels a little out of place here.

These three works are strange bedfellows, yet oddly work incredibly well together. It's an important collection of works that is worth adding to your music library.

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Darren Rea