Immerse yourself in the timeless brilliance of Felix Mendelssohn with this comprehensive collection, featuring his complete symphonies, piano concertos, the captivating Capriccio Brillant, and the enchanting incidental music from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Recorded by the esteemed Kurt Masur and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, this album is a testament to Mendelssohn's enduring genius and the orchestra's unparalleled artistry.
The symphonies showcase Mendelssohn's evolution as a composer, from the youthful energy of his First Symphony to the profound spirituality of the Reformation Symphony and the evocative landscapes of the Scottish Symphony. The piano concertos, performed by the virtuoso Cyprien Katsaris, highlight Mendelssohn's mastery of the piano and his ability to create intimate, expressive dialogues with the orchestra.
The Capriccio Brillant is a dazzling display of Mendelssohn's technical prowess and musical inventiveness, while A Midsummer Night's Dream transports you to a world of fairies, magic, and romance. The famous Wedding March, a staple of countless ceremonies, is just one of the many treasures found within this collection.
Spanning over four and a half hours, this album is a journey through Mendelssohn's musical universe, offering a rich and rewarding experience for both seasoned classical music enthusiasts and newcomers alike. The 2006 release is a reissue of Kurt Masur's Mendelssohn recordings, originally made with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra for Warner, and it stands as a definitive interpretation of these beloved works.
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11, MWV N13: I. Allegro di moltoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11, MWV N13: II. AndanteFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11, MWV N13: III. Menuetto. Allegro moltoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11, MWV N13: IV. Allegro con fuocoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 107, MWV N15 "Reformation": I. Andante - Allegro con fuocoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 107, MWV N15 "Reformation": II. Allegro vivaceFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 107, MWV N15 "Reformation": III. AndanteFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 107, MWV N15 "Reformation": IV. Choral. Andante con motoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": I. (a) Sinfonia. Maestoso con moto - AllegroFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": I. (b) Sinfonia. Allegretto un poco agitatoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": I. (c) Sinfonia. Adagio religiosoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": II. (a) Allegro maestoso. "Alles, was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn!"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, MDR Rundfunkchor, Michael Schönheit, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": II. (b) Molto più moderato ma con fuoco. "Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Edith Wiens, MDR Rundfunkchor, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": III. (a) Recitativ. "Saget es, die ihr erlöst seid"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Peter Schreier, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": III. (b) Allegro moderato. "Er zählet unsre Tränen"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Peter Schreier, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": IV. Chor. "Sagt es, die ihr erlöset seid"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, MDR Rundfunkchor, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": V. Andante. "Ich harrete des Herrn"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Barbara Bonney, Edith Wiens, MDR Rundfunkchor, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": VI. Allegro un poco agitato. "Stricke des Todes hatten uns"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Barbara Bonney, Peter Schreier, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": VII. Allegro maestoso e molto vivace. "Die Nacht ist vergangen"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, MDR Rundfunkchor, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": VIII. Choral. "Nun danket alle Gott"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, MDR Rundfunkchor, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": IX. Andante sostenuto assai. "Drum sing ich mit meinem Liede ewig"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Barbara Bonney, Peter Schreier, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 52, MWV A18 "Lobgesang": X. Schlusschor. "Ihr Völker! bringet her dem Herrn"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, MDR Rundfunkchor, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, MWV N18 "Scottish": I. Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitatoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, MWV N18 "Scottish": II. Vivace non troppoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, MWV N18 "Scottish": III. AdagioFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, MWV N18 "Scottish": IV. Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assaiFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, MWV N16 "Italian": I. Allegro vivaceFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, MWV N16 "Italian": II. Andante con motoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, MWV N16 "Italian": III. Con modo moderatoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, MWV N16 "Italian": IV. Saltarello. PrestoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25, MWV O7: I. Molto allegro con fuocoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Cyprien Katsaris, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25, MWV O7: II. AndanteFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Cyprien Katsaris, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25, MWV O7: III. Presto - Molto allegro e vivaceFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Cyprien Katsaris, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Capriccio Brillant in B Minor, Op. 22, MWV O8Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Cyprien Katsaris, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 40, MWV O11: I. Allegro appassionatoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Cyprien Katsaris, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 40, MWV O11: II. Adagio. Molto sostenutoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Cyprien Katsaris, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 40, MWV O11: III. Finale. Presto scherzandoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Cyprien Katsaris, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: OvertureFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: Dialogue. "Hier ist das Blatt"Felix Mendelssohn, Friedhelm Eberle
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: ScherzoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: Melodram. "Über Täler und Höh'n"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Friedhelm Eberle, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: Fairies' MarchFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Friedhelm Eberle, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: Song with Chorus. "Kommt! Einen Ringel"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Christiane Oertel, Edith Wiens, Friedhelm Eberle, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: Melodram. "Was du wirst erwachend seh'n"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Friedhelm Eberle, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: IntermezzoFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: Melodram. "Welch hausgebackenes Volk"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Friedhelm Eberle, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: NocturneFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: Melodram. "Nun, toller Geist"Felix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Friedhelm Eberle, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: Wedding MarchFelix Mendelssohn, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, MWV M13: Dialogue. "Beliebt es Euer Hoheit"Felix Mendelssohn, Friedhelm Eberle