VA — Mendelssohn — Great Recordings (2021)

FLAC (tracks) / MP3 320 kbps | 12h 56 min | Classical | 3.2 / 1.7 GB

Far from the troubled, coarse libertine that has become an archetype of the Romantic composer, Felix Mendelssohn was something of an anomaly among his contemporaries. His own situation — largely one of domestic tranquility and unhindered career fulfillment — stands in stark contrast to the personal Sturm und Drang familiar to his peers. Mendelssohn was the only musical prodigy of the 19th century whose stature could rival that of Mozart. Still, his parents resisted any entrepreneurial impulses and spared young Felix the strange, grueling lifestyle that was the lot of many child prodigies. He and his sister Fanny were given piano lessons, and he also studied violin, and both joined the Berlin Singakad. Carl Friedrich Zelter, director of the Singakad, became Mendelssohn\’s first composition instructor. Even in his youth, Mendelssohn moved with natural grace among the circles of influence in society, politics, literature, and art. Although he did spend some at the University of Berlin, most of his education was received through friendships and travel. Mendelssohn\’s advocacy was the single most important factor in the revival of Bach\’s vocal music in the 19th century, most famously realized in the 1829 performance of the St. Matthew Passion at the Berlin Singakadamie. He did some touring as a pianist with Ignaz Moscheles, then took the position of music director in Düsseldorf from 1833 to 1835, which involved conducting both the choral and orchestral societies, preparing music for church services and later, becoming intendant for the new theatre. Tension with the theater owner caused him to resign some of his duties, and he began looking for a new post. In 1835, Mendelssohn became municipal music director in Leipzig, where he would also conduct the Gewandhaus Orchestra. He would raise the level of the still-thriving ensemble to a new standard of excellence. In 1838, he married Cécile Jeanrenaud, enjoying an idyllic marriage and family life that were quite unlike the stormy romantic entanglements that profoundly affected such composers as Berlioz, Chopin, and Liszt. He was in demand as a conductor and spent some as royal composer and music director in Berlin, but remained committed to musical life in Leipzig. He was even able to establish a new conservatory in the city, which is still a well-respected institution. Mendelssohn was a true Renaissance man. A talented visual artist, he was a refined connoisseur of literature and philosophy. While his name rarely arises in discussions of the 19th century vanguard, the intrinsic importance of his music is undeniable. A distinct personality emerges at once in its exceptional formal sophistication, its singular melodic sense, and its colorful, masterful deployment of the instrumental forces at hand. A true apotheosis of life, Mendelssohn\’s music absolutely overflows with energy, ebullience, drama, and invention, as evidenced in his most enduring works: the incidental music to A Midsummer Night\’s Dream (1826-1842); the Hebrides Overture (1830); the Songs Without Words (1830-1845); the Symphonies No. 3 (1841-1842) and No. 4 (1833); and the Violin Concerto in E minor (1844). While the sunny disposition of so many of Mendelssohn\’s works has led some to view the composer as possessing great talent but little depth, his religious compositions — particularly the great oratorios Paulus (1836) and Elijah (1846) — reflect the complexity and deeply spiritual basis of his personality.
01 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 3 Presto in E Major \»La harpe du poète\», MWV U107
02 Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks — No.5 Intermezzo (Live)
03 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 3 Molto allegro in A Major \»Hunting Song\», MWV U89
04 Melos Quartet — 2. Scherzo
05 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 1 Con moto in E-Flat Major, MWV U121
06 Melos Quartet — 2. Scherzo. Allegro di molto
07 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 6 Andante sostenuto in G Minor \»Venetian Gondola Song\», MWV U78
08 Mischa Maisky — Transcription for cello and piano by Mischa Maisky
09 Mischa Maisky — Mendelssohn: Suleika, Op. 34/4
10 Melos Quartet — 4. Fuga
11 Siegfried Jerusalem — 3. \»Saget es, die ihr erlöst seid\»
12 Siegfried Jerusalem — 3. \»Er zählet unsre Tränen\»
13 Mischa Maisky — Mendelssohn: Die Liebende schreibt, Op. 86, No. 3
14 Rias Kammerchor — Finale: \»Bei des Feuers mattem Flimmern\»
15 Mischa Maisky — I. Andante espressivo (No. 25)
16 Daniel Barenboim — No. 1 In E Major, MWV U 86 — \»Sweet Remembrance\»
17 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 2 Allegro non troppo in C Minor \»Lost Happiness\», MWV U115
18 Melos Quartet — 3. Andante espressivo
19 Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra — III. Andante
20 Edith Mathis — No.3 Song With Chorus: \»Bunte Schlangen, zwzüngt\» (Live)
21 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 4 Andante in A Major, MWV U120
22 Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra — 4. \»Sagt es, die ihr erlöset seid\»
23 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 5 Agitato in F-Sharp Minor \»Restlessness\», MWV U90
24 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 4 Adagio in F Major \»Sadness Of Soul\», MWV U114
25 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 2 Andante espressivo in A Minor, MWV U80
26 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 4 Moderato in A Major, MWV U73
27 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 5 Agitato in A Minor \»Appassionata\», MWV U137
28 Judi Dench — No.11 Dance of the Clowns
29 Judi Dench — No.4 The Speels
30 Judi Dench — 12. Allegro vivace come 1
31 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 2 Allegro non troppo in E-Flat Major \»The Fleecy Cloud\», MWV U109
32 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 5 Allegro con fuoco in A Minor \»Folk-Song\», MWV U153
33 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 6 Molto allegro vivace in A Major \»La fuite\», MWV U154
34 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 3 Presto agitato in G Minor, MWV U144
35 Mikhail Pletnev — 2. Presto agitato
36 Mischa Maisky — Theme
37 Mischa Maisky — Variation I
38 Mischa Maisky — Variation II.
39 Mischa Maisky — Variation III.
40 Mischa Maisky — Variation IV.
41 Mischa Maisky — Variation V.
42 Mischa Maisky — Variation VI.
43 Mischa Maisky — Variation VII.
44 Mischa Maisky — Variation VIII.
45 Daniel Hope — 5. Venetianisches Gondellied, MWV K 114
46 London Symphony Orchestra — III. Scherzo
47 Daniel Hope — 8. Hexenlied (Anderes Maienlied), MWV K 33
48 Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks — No. 10b) Funeral March (Live)
49 Mischa Maisky — VI. Allegretto grazioso (No. 30)
50 Shlomo Mintz — 3. Allegro agitato
51 Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks — No. 2 Scene — Fairies\’ March (Live)
52 Daniel Barenboim — Mendelssohn: Albumblatt In E Minor, Op.117, MWV U134
53 GewandhausChor — \»Alles, was Odem hat\»
54 Mikhail Pletnev — Mendelssohn: Rondo capriccioso, Op.14, MWV U 67
55 The Chamber Orchestra of Europe — 2. Vivace non troppo (Live)
56 Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) — No.1 Scherzo
57 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 1 Andante espressivo in G Major, MWV U185
58 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 2 Allegro con fuoco in B-Flat Major, MWV U181
59 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 3 Andante maestoso in E Minor \»Funeral March\», MWV U177
60 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 4 Allegro con anima in G Major \»Morning Song\», MWV U175
61 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 5 Andante In A Minor \»Venetian Gondola Song\», MWV U151
62 Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks — No.11 Dance Of The Clowns (Live)
63 London Philharmonic Orchestra — 1. Sinfonia: Maestoso con moto
64 Daniel Barenboim — No. 6 Allegretto grazioso — \»Spring Song\»
65 Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) — No.9 Wedding March
66 Daniel Barenboim — No. 6. Andante Con Moto In A Flat, MWV U 119 — \»Duetto\»
67 Mischa Maisky — Mendelssohn: Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, Op. 34, No. 2
68 Mischa Maisky — Mendelssohn: Lied ohne Worte, Op. 109
69 Melos Quartet — 3. Intermezzo; Allegretto con moto
70 Melos Quartet — 2. Menuetto. Un poco allegro
71 Academy of St. Martin in the Fields — 3. Scherzo (Allegro leggierissimo)
72 Melos Quartet — 2. Canzonetta: Allegretto
73 Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra — II. Allegro vivace
74 Berliner Philharmoniker — 4. Saltarello (Presto)
75 Berliner Philharmoniker — II. Vivace non troppo
76 Melos Quartet — 4. Fuga
77 Melos Quartet — 3. Andante
78 Melos Quartet — 4. Presto agitato
79 Melos Quartet — 1. Tema con Variazione
80 Judi Dench — No. 3. Song with Chorus \»You spotted snakes\»
81 Christoph Eschenbach — No. 1 Andante espressivo in E-Flat Major, MWV U103
82 James Levine — Finale: \»Though this house give glimm\’ring light\» [A Midsummer Night\’s Dream, Op.61 Incidental Music]83 Academy of St. Martin in the Fields — 4. Presto
84 Academy of St. Martin in the Fields — 1. Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco
85 Melos Quartet — 1. Adagio non troppo; Allegro non tardante
86 Melos Quartet — 4. Molto allegro e vivace
87 Melos Quartet — 1. Allegro moderato
88 Melos Quartet — 2. Adagio non troppo
89 Melos Quartet — 3. Minuetto — Trio — Minuetto
90 Melos Quartet — 2. Adagio non lento
91 Melos Quartet — 1. Adagio; Allegro vivace
92 Melos Quartet — 4. Presto
93 Shlomo Mintz — 1. Allegro vivace
94 Shlomo Mintz — 2. Adagio
95 Shlomo Mintz — 3. Assai vivace
96 Melos Quartet — 1. Molto allegro vivace
97 Melos Quartet — 3. Andante espressivo ma con moto
98 Melos Quartet — 4. Presto con brio
99 Melos Quartet — 1. Allegro assai appassionato
100 Berliner Philharmoniker — Mendelssohn: Overture \»A Midsummer Night\’s Dream\», Op. 21
101 Wolfgang Schneiderhan — I. Allegro molto appassionato
102 Wolfgang Schneiderhan — II. Andante
103 Wolfgang Schneiderhan — III. Allegro non troppo — Allegro molto vivace
104 Mischa Maisky — I. Allegro assai vivace
105 Mischa Maisky — II. Allegro scherzando
106 Mischa Maisky — III. Adagio
107 Mischa Maisky — IV. Molto allegro e vivace
108 Mischa Maisky — I. Allegro vivace
109 Mischa Maisky — II. Andante
110 Mischa Maisky — III. Allegro assai
111 Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks — No. 7 Notturno (Live)
112 London Symphony Orchestra — Allegro con moto
113 Lang Lang — 1. Molto allegro con fuoco
114 Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra — I. Andante — Allegro con fuoco
115 London Symphony Orchestra — I. Allegro vivace
116 Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra — IV. Choral \»Ein\’ Feste Burg ist unser Gott!\» (Andante con moto — Allegro vivace — Allegro maestoso — Più animato poco a poco)
117 Berliner Philharmoniker — Mendelssohn: The Hebrides, Op. 26, MWV P. 7
118 Berliner Philharmoniker — I. Andante con moto — Allegro un poco agitato — Assai animato — Andante come prima
119 Berliner Philharmoniker — III. Adagio
120 Berliner Philharmoniker — IV. Allegro vivacissimo — Allegro maestoso assai
121 Academy of St. Martin in the Fields — 2. Andante
122 London Philharmonic Orchestra — 1. Sinfonia: Allegro
123 London Philharmonic Orchestra — 1. Sinfonia: Allegretto un poco agitato
124 London Philharmonic Orchestra — 1. Sinfonia: Adagio religioso
125 Margaret Price — 2. \»Alles was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn\» — \»Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele\»
126 Margaret Price — 5. \»Ich harrete des Herrn\»
127 Siegfried Jerusalem — 6. \»Stricke des Todes hatten uns umfangen\»
128 Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra — 7. \»Die Nacht ist vergangen\»
129 Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra — 8. \»Nun danket alle Gott\» — \»Lob, Ehr\’ und Preis sei Gott\»
130 Margaret Price — 9. \»Drum sing ich mit meinem Liede ewig\»
131 Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra — 10. \»Ihr Völker, bringet her dem Herrn Ehre und Macht\»
132 London Symphony Orchestra — I. Allegro di molto
133 London Symphony Orchestra — II. Andante
134 London Symphony Orchestra — III. Menuetto (Allegro molto)
135 London Symphony Orchestra — IV. Allegro con fuoco
136 The Chamber Orchestra of Europe — 1. Allegro vivace (Live)
137 Emerson String Quartet — 1. Allegro assai appassionato
138 London Symphony Orchestra — II. \»Alles was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn\» — \»Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele\»
139 Shlomo Mintz — 1. Adagio-Allegro moderato
140 Shlomo Mintz — 2. Poco Adagio
141 Gidon Kremer — I. Allegro
142 Gidon Kremer — II. Adagio
143 Gidon Kremer — III. Allegro molto
144 Berliner Philharmoniker — 1. Allegro vivace
145 Berliner Philharmoniker — 2. Andante con moto
146 Berliner Philharmoniker — 3. Con moto moderato