Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream - Overtures

Royal Scottish National Orchestra;
Weller, Walter

94936

This special collection brings together Felix Mendelssohn’s concert overtures, a genre for which the composer was particularly famed. Among them is Ruy Blas; despite Mendelssohn’s initial lack of interest in his commission for this work, he later divulged that ‘the whole thing gave me more pleasure than much else I have undertaken’, and today the work is heralded by many as a dramatic masterpiece. Also featured is The Hebrides – inspired by the composer’s first visit to Britain in 1829 – and the C major Overture, also known as the ‘Trumpet’ overture and which received its name due to the impressive flourishes for this instrument that permeate the work. The Fair Melusine was written in direct response to the overture of an opera of the same name by Conradin Kreutzer, which Mendelssohn ‘disliked … exceedingly’, claiming that his own attempt would ‘have more substance’. Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage is an excellent example of Mendelssohn’s ability to compose for seascape, with the contrabassoon representing the rolling waves.

CD x 2

Muzyka klasyczna

Brilliant Classics

13-11-2019

5028421949369