Mendelssohn

A grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn was born into a prominent Jewish family. He was brought up without religion until the age of seven, when he was baptised as a Reformed Christian. Mendelssohn was recognised early as a musical prodigy, but his parents were cautious and did not seek to capitalise on his talent.
Mendelssohn enjoyed early success in Germany, where he also revived interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and in his travels throughout Europe. He was particularly well received in Britain as a composer, conductor and soloist, and his ten visits there – during which many of his major works were premiered – form an important part of his adult career. His essentially conservative musical tastes, however, set him apart from many of his more adventurous musical contemporaries such as Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Charles-Valentin Alkan and Hector Berlioz. The Leipzig Conservatoire (now the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig), which he founded, became a bastion of this anti-radical outlook.
Mendelssohn wrote symphonies, concerti, oratorios, piano music and chamber music. His best-known works include his Overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Italian Symphony, the Scottish Symphony, the overture The Hebrides, his mature Violin Concerto, and his String Octet. His Songs Without Words are his most famous solo piano compositions. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and antisemitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his creative originality has now been recognised and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era.

Mendelssohn
A grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn was born into a prominent Jewish family. He was brought up without religion until the age of seven, when he was baptised as a Reformed Christian. Mendelssohn was...
GRIEG Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
MENDELSSOHN Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
SCHUMANN Carnaval, Op. 9 [STEREO recording]
Studio recordings, 1953-59
Total duration: 74:26
Ania Dorfmann. piano
WAGNER Preludes & Orchestral Excerpts
BRAHMS Hungarian Dances
DVOŘÁK Carnival Overture
GOLDMARK In Springtime Overture
J. STRAUSS II Four Waltzes
SUPPÉ Poet And Peasant Overture
THOMAS Mignon Overture
music by Elgar, Sibelius, Handel, Mendelssohn et al
Studio recordings, 1916-1926
Total duration: 2hr 30:36
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Frederick Stock
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
Recorded 1944, 1949 and 1959
Total duration: 73:01
Jascha Heifetz, violin
NBC Symphony Orchestra
conductor Arturo Toscanini
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor Sir Thomas Beecham
Boston Symphony Orchestra
conductor Charles Munch
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 4
PROKOFIEV Violin Concerto No. 2
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
Live recordings, 1947/49
Total duration: 68:30
Jascha Heifetz, violin
Boston Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Serge Koussevitzky
Bell Telephone Orchestra
conducted by Donald Voorhees
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
Recorded live in 1954
Duration 23:43
Jascha Heifetz, violin
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Guido Cantelli
MOZART String Quintet No. 4
FRANCK Piano Quintet
BRAHMS String Sextet No. 2
MENDELSSOHN String Octet
Stereo studio recordings, 1961
Total duration: 1hr 59:05
Leonard Pennario piano
Jascha Heifetz - Israel Baker violins
Arnold Belnick - Joseph Stepansky violins
William Primrose - Virginia Majewski violas
Gregor Piatigorsky - Gabor Rejto cellos