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Author(s): Caddy, Davinia
Composer(s): Mendelssohn, Felix
Lyricist(s): Ball, William; Bartholomew, William; Bible - Old Testament; Mendelssohn, Felix; Schubring, Julius
Conductor(s): Bernius, Frieder; Bramall, Anthony; Dohnányi, Oliver von; Jean, Kenneth; Märkl, Jun; Marriner, Neville; Rilling, Helmuth; Seifried, Reinhard; Winpenny, Tom
Orchestra(s): Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Orchestra; Ireland National Symphony Orchestra; Leipzig MDR Symphony Orchestra; Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra; Stuttgart Bach Collegium
Ensemble(s): Auer String Quartet; Kodály Quartet
Choir(s): Leipzig MDR Radio Choir; St Albans Cathedral Choir, Lay Clerks; St Albans Cathedral Girls Choir; Stuttgart Chamber Choir
Artist(s): Engels-Benz, Sonntraud; Frith, Benjamin; Hicks, Laura; Holder, Peter; Martineau, Malcolm; Nagy, Péter; Nishizaki, Takako; Tharp, Stephen; Tritschler, Robin
Reader(s): Pugh, Leighton
Label: Naxos
Genre: Chamber Music; Choral - Sacred; Concerto; Instrumental; Non-Fiction; Orchestral; Vocal
Period: Contemporary; Romantic
Catalogue No: 8.578373
Barcode: 747313837373
Release Date: 11/2023
MENDELSSOHN, Felix: Great Composers in Words and Music
Felix Mendelssohn was a child prodigy to rival Mozart and achieved great fame during his lifetime, fêted across Europe, and composing in the widest possible range of musical genres. However, his music has also been denigrated for its elegance, charm and symmetry. This insightful biography explores the breadth of his achievements, the complexities of his privileged upbringing, and the reasons for the fluctuating nature of his reputation. Musical excerpts include the Violin Concerto, String Octet and Elijah, as well as his choral works, symphonies, sonatas and songs.
Tracklist
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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1 | Introduction | 00:11 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Stuttgart Bach Collegium (Orchestra)
Rilling, Helmuth (Conductor)
Rilling, Helmuth (Conductor)
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2 | Die beiden Neffen oder Der Onkel aus Boston (The Two Nephews, or The Uncle from Boston), MWV L4, Act I: Overture (excerpt) | 01:14 |
Stuttgart Bach Collegium (Orchestra)
Rilling, Helmuth (Conductor)
Rilling, Helmuth (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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3 | Der Onkel aus Boston ('The Uncle from Boston'), a three-act dramatic work by Felix Mendelssohn, begun in May 1822 and completed in November 1823… | 07:00 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Frith, Benjamin (piano)
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4 | 6 Kinderstücke (6 Children's Pieces), Op. 72, "Christmas Pieces": No. 1. Allegro non troppo, MWV U171 | 00:59 |
Frith, Benjamin (piano)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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5 | An extract from Mendelssohn's piano collection Kinderstücke ('Children's Pieces'), published after the composer' death in 1847… | 02:57 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Mendelssohn, Felix - Lyricist
Mendelssohn, Felix - Lyricist
Tritschler, Robin (tenor)
Martineau, Malcolm (piano)
Martineau, Malcolm (piano)
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6 | Lied zum Geburtstag meines guten Vaters, MWV K1 | 01:12 |
Tritschler, Robin (tenor)
Martineau, Malcolm (piano)
Martineau, Malcolm (piano)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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7 | By his early teens, Mendelssohn had already acquired an impressive portfolio of musical compositions across a range of genres: chamber music, psalm settings, string sinfonias and keyboard works… | 05:41 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Kodály Quartet (Ensemble)
Auer String Quartet (Ensemble)
Auer String Quartet (Ensemble)
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8 | String Octet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20, MWV R20: III. Scherzo: Allegro leggierissimo (excerpt) | 01:00 |
Kodály Quartet (Ensemble)
Auer String Quartet (Ensemble)
Auer String Quartet (Ensemble)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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9 | A similar musical atmosphere was created in the second of Mendelssohn's towering early works: his Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream, finished in early August 1826 and, like the Octet… | 00:56 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bramall, Anthony (Conductor)
Bramall, Anthony (Conductor)
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10 | A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, Op. 21, MWV P3 (excerpt) | 01:36 |
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bramall, Anthony (Conductor)
Bramall, Anthony (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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11 | The period also witnessed the intensification of Mendelssohn's historical interest in earlier styles, particularly sacred vocal music… | 03:10 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Stuttgart Chamber Choir (Choir)
Engels-Benz, Sonntraud (organ)
Bernius, Frieder (Conductor)
Engels-Benz, Sonntraud (organ)
Bernius, Frieder (Conductor)
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12 | Hora est, MWV B18: Hora est | 02:23 |
Stuttgart Chamber Choir (Choir)
Engels-Benz, Sonntraud (organ)
Bernius, Frieder (Conductor)
Engels-Benz, Sonntraud (organ)
Bernius, Frieder (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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13 | 1829 saw the beginning of Mendelssohn's Grand Tour of Europe, a series of excursions that took the composer north to Scotland and south to Italy… | 02:32 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Dohnányi, Oliver von (Conductor)
Dohnányi, Oliver von (Conductor)
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14 | The Hebrides in D Major, Op. 26, MWV P7, "Fingal's Cave" (excerpt) | 01:06 |
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Dohnányi, Oliver von (Conductor)
Dohnányi, Oliver von (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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15 | At the home of a wealthy mine owner in north Wales, the next stop in his tour, Mendelssohn first contemplated a large-scale orchestral work now known as the Reformation Symphony… | 04:49 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Ireland National Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Seifried, Reinhard (Conductor)
Seifried, Reinhard (Conductor)
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16 | Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, MWV N16, "Italian": IV. Saltarello: Presto (excerpt) | 01:09 |
Ireland National Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Seifried, Reinhard (Conductor)
Seifried, Reinhard (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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17 | The second opportunity to present itself on Mendelssohn's return to Berlin, following his European tour, was the directorship of the 15th Niederrheinisches Musikfest… | 02:08 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Orchestra (Orchestra)
Marriner, Neville (Conductor)
Marriner, Neville (Conductor)
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18 | Overture in C Major, Op. 101, MWV P2, "Trumpet" (excerpt) | 00:47 |
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Orchestra (Orchestra)
Marriner, Neville (Conductor)
Marriner, Neville (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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19 | The success of Mendelssohn's directorship of the Düsseldorf festival – to one commentator, 'the greatest public success that he had yet had in Germany'… | 05:19 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Ball, William - Lyricist
Ball, William - Lyricist
St Albans Cathedral Girls Choir (Choir)
St Albans Cathedral Choir, Lay Clerks (Choir)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
St Albans Cathedral Choir, Lay Clerks (Choir)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
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20 | Paulus (St. Paul), Op. 36, MWV A14, Part II: How Lovely are the Messengers (Sung in English) (excerpt) | 01:42 |
St Albans Cathedral Girls Choir (Choir)
St Albans Cathedral Choir, Lay Clerks (Choir)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
St Albans Cathedral Choir, Lay Clerks (Choir)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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21 | Roughly one month earlier, the 9th of September 1836, Mendelssohn had become engaged to Cécile Jeanrenaud… | 02:59 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
St Albans Cathedral Girls Choir (Choir)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
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22 | 3 Motets, Op. 39: No. 1. Veni, Domine (Hear my prayer, O Lord), MWV B24 (excerpt) | 00:52 |
St Albans Cathedral Girls Choir (Choir)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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23 | The next few years in Leipzig witnessed the completion of Mendelssohn's String Quartets Op. 44, his Piano Trio in D minor, the Overture 'Ruy Blas'… | 03:31 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Tharp, Stephen (organ)
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24 | Organ Sonata in C Minor, Op. 65, No. 2, MWV W57: II. Allegro maestoso e vivace (excerpt) | 01:05 |
Tharp, Stephen (organ)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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25 | It is easy to forget that, while Mendelssohn was most famous during his lifetime as a composer, conductor and virtuoso pianist, his skills extended to the organ… | 03:12 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Nishizaki, Takako (violin)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jean, Kenneth (Conductor)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jean, Kenneth (Conductor)
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26 | Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O14: III. Allegro molto vivace (excerpt) | 01:10 |
Nishizaki, Takako (violin)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jean, Kenneth (Conductor)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jean, Kenneth (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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27 | Hear My Prayer, a short standalone piece of sacred choral music also composed in 1844, cannot be described as a masterpiece… | 01:03 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Bible - Old Testament - Lyricist
Bartholomew, William - Lyricist
Bible - Old Testament - Lyricist
Bartholomew, William - Lyricist
Hicks, Laura (soprano)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
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28 | Hear My Prayer, WoO 15, MWV B49 (version for voice and organ) (excerpt) | 01:28 |
Hicks, Laura (soprano)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
Holder, Peter (organ)
Winpenny, Tom (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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29 | Ten years after the premiere of St. Paul, Mendelssohn turned his attention once again to the genre of the oratorio: the result was Elijah… | 02:06 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Schubring, Julius - Lyricist
Schubring, Julius - Lyricist
Leipzig MDR Radio Choir (Choir)
Leipzig MDR Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Märkl, Jun (Conductor)
Leipzig MDR Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Märkl, Jun (Conductor)
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30 | Elijah, Op. 70, MWV A25, Part II: Alsdann wird euer Licht hervorbrechen (And then shall Your light break forth) (excerpt) | 00:46 |
Leipzig MDR Radio Choir (Choir)
Leipzig MDR Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Märkl, Jun (Conductor)
Leipzig MDR Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Märkl, Jun (Conductor)
Caddy, Davinia - Author
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
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31 | Mendelssohn died on the 4th of November 1847 following a series of strokes… | 03:38 |
Pugh, Leighton (Reader)
Mendelssohn, Felix
Nagy, Péter (piano)
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32 | Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words), Book 5, Op. 62: No. 28 in G Major, Op. 62, No. 4, MWV U175 | 01:30 |
Nagy, Péter (piano)
Total Playing Time: 01:11:11