Felix Mendelssohn
Far from the troubled, coarse libertine that has become an archetype of the Romantic composer, Felix Mendelssohn was something of an anomaly among his contemporaries. His own situation -- largely one of domestic tranquility and unhindered career fulfillment -- stands in stark contrast to the personal Sturm und Drang familiar to his peers. Mendelssohn was the only musical prodigy of the 19th century whose stature could rival that of Mozart. Still, his parents resisted any entrepreneurial impulses and spared young Felix the strange, grueling lifestyle that was the lot of many child prodigies.
He and his sister Fanny were given piano lessons, and he also studied violin, and both joined the Berlin Singakademie. Carl Friedrich Zelter, director of the Singakademie, became Mendelssohn's first composition instructor. Even in his youth, Mendelssohn moved with natural grace among the circles of influence in society, politics, literature, and art. Although he did spend some time at the University of Berlin, most of his education was received through friendships and travel. Mendelssohn's advocacy was the single most important factor in the revival of Bach's vocal music in the 19th century, most famously realized in the 1829 performance of the St. Matthew Passion at the Berlin Singakadamie. He did some touring as a pianist with Ignaz Moscheles, then took the position of music director in Düsseldorf from 1833 to 1835, which involved conducting both the choral and orchestral societies, preparing music for church services and later, becoming intendant for the new theatre. Tension with the theater owner caused him to resign some of his duties, and he began looking for a new post. In 1835, Mendelssohn became municipal music director in Leipzig, where he would also conduct the Gewandhaus Orchestra. He would raise the level of the still-thriving ensemble to a new standard of excellence. In 1838, he married Cécile Jeanrenaud, enjoying an idyllic marriage and family life that were quite unlike the stormy romantic entanglements that profoundly affected such composers as Berlioz, Chopin, and Liszt. He was in demand as a conductor and spent some time as royal composer and music director in Berlin, but remained committed to musical life in Leipzig. He was even able to establish a new conservatory in the city, which is still a well-respected institution.
Mendelssohn was a true Renaissance man. A talented visual artist, he was a refined connoisseur of literature and philosophy. While his name rarely arises in discussions of the 19th century vanguard, the intrinsic importance of his music is undeniable. A distinct personality emerges at once in its exceptional formal sophistication, its singular melodic sense, and its colorful, masterful deployment of the instrumental forces at hand. A true apotheosis of life, Mendelssohn's music absolutely overflows with energy, ebullience, drama, and invention, as evidenced in his most enduring works: the incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream (1826-1842); the Hebrides Overture (1830); the Songs Without Words (1830-1845); the Symphonies No. 3 (1841-1842) and No. 4 (1833); and the Violin Concerto in E minor (1844). While the sunny disposition of so many of Mendelssohn's works has led some to view the composer as possessing great talent but little depth, his religious compositions -- particularly the great oratorios Paulus (1836) and Elijah (1846) -- reflect the complexity and deeply spiritual basis of his personality.
© Rovi Staff /TiVo
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Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "The Italian" (Digitally Remastered)
USSR State Academic Symphony Orchestra
Classica - Pubblicato da EMG Classical il 15 lug 2014
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Mendelssohn: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor, Op. 64 (Digitally Remastered)
USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Andrei Korsakov
Classica - Pubblicato da EMG Classical il 15 lug 2014
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Vintage World Nº 46 - EPs Collectors "Hawaiian Holiday Serenade" (Steel Guitar)
World music - Pubblicato da Vintage Music il 14 giu 1956
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Mendelssohn: Athalie, Op. 74: "The War March of the Priests" (Digitally Remastered)
Classica - Pubblicato da EMG Classical il 15 lug 2014
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Vintage World Nº3- EPs Collectors "Hawaiian Serenade"
World music - Pubblicato da Vintage Music il 20 feb 1956
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Mendelssohn - Piano Concerto No. 2 - Scherzo A Capriccio
Rena Kyriakou, Felix Mendelssohn, Vienna Pro Musica Orchestra, Hans Swarowsky
Classica - Pubblicato da Denon il 1 gen 2007
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Vintage World Nº 45 - EPs Collectors "Hawaiian Holiday Serenade" (Steel Guitar)
World music - Pubblicato da Vintage Music il 6 apr 1955
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Vintage World Nº 49 - EPs Collectors "Hawaii In My Heart"
World music - Pubblicato da Vintage Music il 3 mag 1957
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Mendelssohn: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor, Op. 64 (Digitally Remastered)
USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Liyana Isakdsze
Classica - Pubblicato da EMG Classical il 15 lug 2014
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Vintage World Nº 14- EPs Collectors "Hawaiian Holiday Serenade"
World music - Pubblicato da Vintage Music il 23 mag 1958
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Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in a Minor, Op. 56 "The Scottish" (Digitally Remastered)
Classica - Pubblicato da EMG Classical il 15 lug 2014
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Mendelssohn: Weavers Song (Spinner Lied) [Digitally Remastered]
Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra
Classica - Pubblicato da EMG Classical il 15 lug 2014
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Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11 (Digitally Remastered)
Classica - Pubblicato da EMG Classical il 15 lug 2014
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Felix Mendelssohn - Piano Trio/Piano Sextet - The Atlantis Trio & Ensemble
Classica - Pubblicato da Musica Omnia il 1 lug 2006
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A Tribute to Felix Mendelssohn
Camerata con Cor(d)e, Alain Roelant, Liebrecht Vanbeckevoort
Classica - Pubblicato da Phaedra il 4 set 2008
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Felix Mendelssohn: Six Anthems for Double Chorus, Op. 79
Classica - Pubblicato da K&K Verlagsanstalt il 20 dic 2010
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Rarities and Early Works - Works 1
Classica - Pubblicato da Saphir Productions il 13 set 2010
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Découvertes
Robert Schumann Philharmonie Chemnitz, Oleg Caetani
Classica - Pubblicato da Claves Records il 1 gen 1999
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Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Classica - Pubblicato da AVIE Records il 21 mag 2012
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Nadia Reisenberg: Live In Concert
Musica da camera - Pubblicato da Roméo Records il 1 nov 2012
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Felix Mendelssohn : Complete Piano Trios
Classica - Pubblicato da Challenge Classics il 1 gen 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo