Mendelssohn

[Hornspieler]

I've just been listening to tonight's COTW.

Heifetz playing the Mendelsohnn concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

On a famous Guarnerius violin? As scratchy and scrappy a performance as I've ever heard.

Give me Alfredo Campoli any day - or Gil Shaham.

HS

[Nick Armstrong]

I am a fan...just wondered if this wasn't a particularly exciting COTW.

Same here... the bits I've heard from this week's COTW seem a snooze... rather an uncharacteristically lazy programme. I've recently listened to the full-week podcast of Koechlin, Medtner/Rachmaninov & Coleridge-Taylor and they were anything but.

Lost opportunity, or old programme repeated?

[teamsaint]

Same here... the bits I've heard from this week's COTW seem a snooze... rather an uncharacteristically lazy programme. I've recently listened to the full-week podcast of Koechlin, Medtner/Rachmaninov & Coleridge-Taylor and they were anything but.

Lost opportunity, or old programme repeated?

Lost opportunity I think is fair, though I have only caught bits of it TBF. Perhaps a week concentrating on the chamber music or his previously unsuspected influence on Schoenberg or something would have been more interesting...maybe we will be treated over the next two lunchtimes !!
Would at least have saved people from embarrassing themselves with half baked views on recordings of the symphonies !!

[Serial_Apologist]

" ... a personality comparable to a Mendelssohn, a Schumann, a Debussy - Artists whose ambition was not that of the reformer, though their originality was rich and distinct enough." (Style & Idea p133.)

" ... the classic composers - Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms and even Wagner" (ibid p108)

" ... Mendelssohn ... a master" (Theory of Harmony p303)

Five examples from Mendelssohn used as examples of "good practice" in Fundamentals of Musical Composition.

Mendelssohn wasn't Arnie's favourite composer, but he certain admired much of Mendelssohn's works, particularly, it seems, the Violin Concerto and the Chamber Works. You're right - there is a lot of Victoriana in the Piano Music and neither of the Oratorios move me much (of the two, I prefer St Paul), but the Chamber Music, the 4th & 3rd Symphonies, the Violin Concerto: these will repay your "reconsideration"!

That clinches it. OK guys, you win!!!

Oh, and far from by the way -

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[teamsaint]

Last one today...sure I have heard it before.
The ending , of course, cannot fail to move one.......

I DO hope MrGG tunes in for todays show...

[DoctorT]

Mendelssohn String Symphonies

I'm thinking of investing in a set of these lovely works. Any suggestions? Markiz? Pople? Ward?

Thanks in anticipation.

[Parry1912]

I've got Markiz as part of the Brilliant Classics 40CD 'Mendelssohn Portrait' box and can happily recommend him. Goodman is also very good if you fancy period instruments and don't mind the reverberant acoustic.

[MickyD]

Being a period instrument fan, I invested in the Concerto Koln set - but I find it a bit too hectic and abrasive....I think I would like to try the Goodman also, as Parry1912 suggests.

[Karafan]

I found Pople rather undercharacterised and went for Concerto Köln.

[richardfinegold]

I've got Markiz as part of the Brilliant Classics 40CD 'Mendelssohn Portrait' box and can happily recommend him. Goodman is also very good if you fancy period instruments and don't mind the reverberant acoustic.

[mathias broucek]

I'm happy enough with Ward. Not the last word in characterisation. But an enjoyable listen.

[Barbirollians]

Mendelssohn song rediscovered

Here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27253932

Judging my that performance it is rather lovely.

[Roehre]

Here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27253932

Judging my that performance it is rather lovely.

Many thanks

[verismissimo]

Maybe it will revive interest in Mendelssohn's lovely songs.

[pastoralguy]