For the same occasion as the 'Lobgesang' symphony, Mendelssohn also wrote his Festgesang, which is the source of the English Christmas hymn 'Hark, the herald angels sing'.
Composition History
Mendelssohn wrote his Symphony No. 2, 'Lobgesang' (Hymn of Praise), in 1840 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Gutenberg's invention of printing with movable type.
Critical Reception
Richard Wagner, the self-appointed heir to Beethoven, dismissed Mendelssohn's 'Lobgesang' as a 'feeble copy' and 'a mere symphony with choruses'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mendelssohn described his Symphony No. 2 as a 'symphony-cantata' and used texts from the Luther Bible, quoting Luther's words about music serving God.
Recording & Production
This recording of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 2 was made on April 22 & 23, 1991, at the Seattle Center Opera House in the USA.
Composer Biography
Felix Mendelssohn, born in Hamburg in 1809, was the eldest son of banker Abraham Mendelssohn and grandson of the Jewish thinker Moses Mendelssohn.
Performer Biography
Gerard Schwarz, the conductor, was the Music Director of the Seattle Symphony from 1985 to 2011 and has a discography of over 330 releases.
