sérieuses
French composer
Definition
Serious. Mendelssohn's own descriptor for his Variations Op. 54, distinguishing them from lighter salon variations and announcing an intention to write a work of genuine artistic weight.
Interpretive Guidance
Take the sérieuses designation as a guide to the overall character: the Variations demand a serious, concentrated approach. Resist the temptation to play individual variations as showpieces — maintain the architectural sweep of the whole.