Mendelssohn:
- Symphonies Nos. 3 ‘Scottish’ and 4 ‘Italian’
Listening to conductor Frans Brüggen in any form of music-making is always a satisfying experience for me. As such, the opportunity to hear his interpretations of Mendelssohn’s Italian and Scottish Symphonies with his Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century is an event to enjoy. I have always found that this conductor and his orchestra are totally committed to the Romantic spirit of the 19th century.
We also get some of J S Bach as an added attraction on this CD:
Bach, J S:
- Cantata BWV107 ‘Was willst du dich betrüben’: Herr, gib, dass ich dein’ Ehre, transcr. for orchestra
Mendelssohn:
- Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ‘Italian’
- Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 ‘Scottish’
Performed by the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, conducted by Frans Brüggen
Felix Mendelssohn is a composer who has long fascinated conductor Frans Brüggen, and on this new recording he captures the emotional cross-currents experienced by Mendelssohn when reflecting on his own Grand Tour, which took in both the blazing sun of Rome and also the mists of the Scottish Highlands.
These new performances by Frans Brüggen are introduced with a moving orchestral transcription of music by a composer as close to Brüggen’s heart as he was to Mendelssohn’s: The closing chorale of Bach’s Cantata No 107, ‘Was willst du dich betrüben’.
Here is music from Haydn’s ‘Berenice’, che fai? Hob.XXIVa:10; with Frans Brüggen conducting and singer Simone Kermes:
And next, here is Mendelssohn’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ – VI. Notturno:
http://youtu.be/bKyNuMlzIdo
Tags: Felix Mendelssohn, Symphonies 3 and 4, Frans Brüggen