Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 "Scottish", The Hebrides

Featuring

Alexis Kossenko
Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

Did you know?

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Critical Reception

Mendelssohn's 'Reformation' Symphony, no. 5, was disowned by the composer not due to dissatisfaction, but because of frustration from many rejections, including one for being 'too learned and too contrapuntal'.

Compositional Technique

Mendelssohn was skilled at differentiating between liquid and solid forms in his music, using strong beats for solidity and shifting, elusive motifs for liquidity, especially in depicting ocean currents.

Interpretation

The conductor, Alexis Kossenko, uses sparing vibrato in the orchestra for both historical reasons (vibrato was a soloist's prerogative) and musical reasons, to maintain the music's forward momentum.

Composition History

Both Mendelssohn's Third Symphony and 'Hebrides' Overture have their roots in his 1829 trip to England and Scotland, which made a lasting impression on him.

Recording & Production

This album features the first-ever recording on period instruments of Mendelssohn's Third Symphony and 'Hebrides' Overture.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Mendelssohn's music, particularly in these Scottish-inspired works, often conveys a 'magical, supernatural element' and depicts landscapes with a sense of hidden, legendary creatures.

Composition History

Mendelssohn sketched the first sixteen bars of his 'Scottish' Symphony's opening movement after visiting the ruins of Mary Queen of Scots' palace in Edinburgh.