Felix Mendelssohn Photo: Wilhelm Hensel 1847 Public Domain
Felix Mendelssohn began to compose at a young age and was supported, but not pushed, by his family.
He had piano and composition lessons early, and on his travels met many prominent composers and artists of the day. By the age of fourteen he had a private orchestra for which he composed string symphonies.
As Roger Smith describes in this programme, Mendelssohn continued to travel and to be inspired by his experiences and the people he met throughout his short life. He worked tirelessly and he loved it.
Music Details:
MENDELSSOHN: Songs without Words, Op 19, No 5 - Murray Perahia (pno) (Sony SK 66511)
MENDELSSOHN: Octet in Eb, Op 20 - James Ehnes (vln), members of Seattle Chamber Music Society (Onyx 4060)
MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Overture - London SO/ Barry Wordsworth (Virgin 3 91372)
MENDELSSOHN: Hebrides Overture - London SO/ Barry Wordsworth (Virgin 3 91372)
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No 4, Italian - CO of Europe/ Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Warner Classics and Jazz 2564 69282)
MENDELSSOHN: Calm Sea and Prosporous Voyage, Overture - Calm Sea and Prosporous Voyage, Overture (Decca 421 769)
MENDELSSOHN: St Paul, Op 36 - BBC National Chorus & Orch of Wales/ Richard Hickox (Chandos CHAN 9882)
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 3, Scottish - City of Birmingham SO/ Edward Gardner (Chandos CHSA 5139)
MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Suite - London SO/ Barry Wordsworth (Virgin 3 91372)
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto - James Ehnes (vln), members of Seattle Chamber Music Society (Onyx 4060)
MENDELSSOHN: Elijah - Soloists, Düsseldorf Musikverein Chorus, Cologne Gürzenich Orch/ James Conlon (EMI 3 50884)
MENDELSSOHN: Songs without Words, Op 67, No 2 - Murray Perahia (pno) (Sony SK 66511)
