German composer Felix Mendelssohn finds himself at the center of this week’s episode of Exploring Music. He has been hailed as one of the greatest musical minds of all time. We venture from his precocious youth to his early death. His great body of work is still in the repertories of chamber groups and orchestras. And it’s the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto that is loved by all. The same love and devotion is true for his String Octet and Italian Symphony.
Mendelssohn, Felix
Portrait: Felix Mendelssohn, 1846, by Eduard Magnus
Playlist
Episode 1
Mendelssohn, Felix: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor, Op. 64 (excerpts)
Concertgebouw/ Haitink; Perlman, violin
Violin Concerto No. 1
EMI 69863
2:30
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Symphony No. 3 in E Minor, I.
English String Orchestra/ Boughton
Complete String Symphonies Volume 1
Nimbus 5141
3:05
Mendelssohn, Felix: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11, III.
London Symphony Orchestra/ Abbado
Mendelssohn: Symphonies 1 & 5 / Abbado, LSO
DG 445596
6:40
Mendelssohn, Felix: Overture for Wind Instruments in C Major
London Symphony Orchestra/ Abbado
Overtures
DG 423104
9:41
Mendelssohn, Felix: Octet for Strings, I.
Guarneri and Orion String Quartets
String Quartet No. 3; Octet
Arab 6714
14:14
Mendelssohn, Felix: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture
Berlin Philharmonic/ Abbado
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Symphony No 4 / Abbado
Sony 62826
11:40
Mendelssohn, Felix: Seven
Characteristic Pieces for Piano, Op. 7, No. 2
Martin Jones, piano
Complete Piano Works, Songs Without Words II
Nimbus 5074
1:50
Episode 2
Mendelssohn, Felix: Octet for Strings, II. Scherzo
Guarneri & Orion String Quartets
String Quartet No. 3; Octet
Arab 6714
4:27
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Solti
Matthäus- Passion
Decca 421 177
2:10
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 12, I.
Juilliard String Quartet
Mendelssohn: String Quartets No 1 & 2 / Juilliard Quartet
Sony 60579
8:04
Mendelssohn, Felix: Hebrides Overture, in B Minor, Op. 26, “Fingal’s Cave”
Cleveland Orchestra/ Szell
Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 3 “Scottish” & 4, “Italian” / Szell, Cleveland Orchestra
Sony 46536
10:50
Mendelssohn, Felix: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in G Minor
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/ Marriner Perahia, piano
Piano Concertos No. 1 & No. 2
CBS 42401
20:02
Mendelssohn, Felix: “Frühlingsglaube”
Quasthoff, baritone, Zeyen, piano
Thomas Quasthoff: A Romantic Songbook
DG B0002192
1:43
Mendelssohn, Felix: “Auf Flügeln des Gesanges” (excerpt)
Quasthoff, baritone, Zeyen, piano
Thomas Quasthoff: A Romantic Songbook
DG B0002192
2:02
Episode 3
Mendelssohn, Felix: Quintet for Strings no 1 in A major, Op. 18, II. Intermezzo
L’Archibudelli
Mendelssohn: String Quintets / L’Archibudelli
Sony 60766
7:45
Mendelssohn, Felix: Songs Without Words, Op. 19b (excerpt)
Glen Gould, piano
Glenn Gould Edition – Chopin, Mendelssohn, Scriabin, Et Al
Sony 52622
2:13
Mendelssohn, Felix: Symphony No. 5 in D Major, Op. 107, Reformation, I (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra/Abbado
Mendelssohn, 5 Symphonien, Abbado, London Symphony
DG 415353
:28
Mendelssohn, Felix: Symphony No. 5 in D major, Op. 107, Reformation, Finale
London Symphony Orchestra/ Abbado
Mendelssohn, 5 Symphonien, Abbado, London Symphony
DG 415353
9:04
Mendelssohn, Felix: Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, Italian
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Solti
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 ‘Scottish’; Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’
Lon 414 665-1
29:47
Episode 4
Mendelssohn, Felix: St. Paul (excerpts)
Leipzig Radio Chorus & Gewandhaus Orchestra/ Masur
Mendelssohn: Paulus / Masur, Janowitz, Lang, Blochwitz, Adam
Phil 420212
11:21
Mendelssohn, Felix: Trio for Piano and Strings No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49, I.
Schneider, violin; Casals, violin cello; Horszowski, piano
Casals Edition – Brahms, Mendelssohn: Piano Trios / Hess
Sony 66571
9:54
Mendelssohn, Felix: Symphony No. 3, “Scottish,” I. II.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Solti
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 ‘Scottish’; Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’
Lon 414 665-1
20:10
Mendelssohn, Felix: A Midsummer Night’s Dream- Scherzo
Berlin Philharmonic/ Abbado
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Symphony No 4 / Abbado
Sony 62826
4:22
Mendelssohn, Felix: Symphony No. 3, “Scottish,” II. (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Solti
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 ‘Scottish’; Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’
Lon 414 665-1
1:13
Episode 5
Mendelssohn, Felix: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor, Op. 64
Concertgebouw/ Haitink; Perlman, violin
Mendelssohn, Bruch: Violin Concertos / Perlman, Previn, London Symphony Orchestra
EMI 69863
28:57
Mendelssohn, Felix: Elijah (excerpt – middle section)
London Symphony Orchestra/ Hickox
Mendelssohn: Elijah / Hickox, White, London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Chan 8774
8:56
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80 (excerpts)
Ysaye Quartet
Mendelssohn: Complete String Quartets
Lon 436325
1:42
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80 (excerpts)
Ysaye Quartet
Mendelssohn: Complete String Quartets
Lon 436325
1:00
Mendelssohn, Felix: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nocturne & Finale
Berlin Phil/ Abbado; Branagh, narrator
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Symphony No 4 /Abbado
Sony 62826
10:54
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80 (IV. Finale)
Ysaye Quartet
Mendelssohn: Complete String Quartets
Lon 436325
1:37
