Episode 3
Donald Macleod contrasts Felix Mendelssohn's growing popularity with his sister's adaptation to marriage. With his Italian Symphony (1st mvt) and Fanny's String Quartet in E flat.
Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, two sibling prodigies whose lives took very different paths, but whose music had much in common.
He concentrates on Felix's growing popularity as he receives his first commissions following his grand tour, contrasting it with his sister's adaptation to married life. She starts her own salon in the Mendelssohn family home, where she can play and conduct her own works.
Including one of those commissioned works which became known as the Italian Symphony, a cantata premiered at Fanny's musical evenings, plus the last major work she would write for many years to come.
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op 19 No 6
Luba Edlina (piano)
Chandos CHAN 89489, CD1 Tr 6
Duration: 2m18s
Mendelssohn: Songs without Words, Op 30 No 2
Luba Edlina (piano)
Chandos CHAN 89489, Tr 8
Duration: 2m13s
Fanny Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E flat
Erato Quartett Basel
CPO 999 679-2 Trs 1-4
Duration: 19m47s
Mendelssohn: Italian Symphony (1st mvt)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Walter Weller (conductor)
Chandos CHAN 10224(3) X, CD3 Tr 1
Duration: 10m38s
Mendelssohn: Die Erste Walpurgisnacht (excerpt)
Eberhard Buchner (tenor)
Siegfried Lorenz (baritone)
Siegfried Vogel (bass)
Rundfunkchor Leipzig
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Kurt Masur (conductor)
Berlin Classics BC 2057-2, Trs 8-11
Duration: 11m56s.
Last on
Broadcasts
- Wed 6 May 2009 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Wed 6 May 2009 22:00成人快手 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.