Mendelssohn's 'Scottish' Symphony was inspired by his visit to Edinburgh's ruined Holyrood Chapel in 1829, where he felt he found the beginning of the symphony.
Critical Reception
Mendelssohn's 'Reformation' Symphony received mixed reviews at its 1832 premiere, and the composer himself later disliked it, writing in 1838 that he could 'hardly stand' it and wished to burn it.
Composition History
Mendelssohn began conceiving both his Third Symphony, the 'Scottish', and his Fifth, the 'Reformation', in 1829, though neither reached its final form until much later.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Caird Hall, Dundee, UK, between February 14-18, 2022.
Composer Biography
Felix Mendelssohn, the composer, was already a mature and respected musician at age twenty, having composed his string Octet at sixteen and his A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture at seventeen.
Performer Biography
Maxim Emelyanychev, the conductor, was appointed Principal Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in 2019 after a last-minute replacement conducting Schubert Symphony No. 9 led to enthusiastic reception from the musicians.
Composer's Artistic Vision
For his 'Reformation' Symphony, Mendelssohn aimed to convey Lutheran religious values, drawing inspiration from the music of J. S. Bach, whose works Mendelssohn had been playing and studying since his mid-teens.
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