Mendelssohn: Symphonies No. 1 & 3 NDR Radiophilharmonie & Andrew Manze

• Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11, MWV N 13:
• 1I. Allegro di molto10:11
• 2II. Andante06:09
• 3III. Menuetto. Allegro molto - Trio07:24
• 4IV. Allegro con fuoco08:18
• Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, MWV N 18 "Scottish":
• 5I. Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitato15:43
• 6II. Scherzo. Vivace non troppo04:21
• 7III. Adagio09:12
• 8IV. Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assai09:24
• Total Runtime01:10:42

Info for Mendelssohn: Symphonies No. 1 & 3

Inspired by his visits to Scotland and the Hebrides and the romantic novels of Sir Walter Scott, his outstanding Symphony No. 3 in A minor (Scottish) is a colourful reminiscence of its rugged landscapes steeped in history, and an affectionate homage to the proud Highlanders he met there. It was an instant success on its first performance and rivals the popularity of the overture The Hebrides, also inspired by the splendour of Scotland.

No less impressive is his masterly Symphony No. 1 in C minor, composed when he was just 15 years old. From its noisy and impetuous opening to its triumphant conclusion, this confident and adventurous work shows the influence of Mozart, Haydn and Weber but the effect is unmistakeably Mendelssohnian with fugal passages, unforgettable melodies and busy, inventive scoring.

Whatever the exceptional Andrew Manze asked for,wrote the Leipziger Volkszeitung, was delivered in real time: wonderfully delicate strings, spotless, yet warm-sounding woodwind ... the result was detailed and rich in contrast.Renowned for his boundless energy and scholarly knowledge and with many critically acclaimed recordings in a broad repertoire, Manze is celebrated as one of the most stimulating and inspirational conductors of his generation.

Manze's take is wholly individual,wrote the Guardian. [Brahms' symphonies] burst with life, by turns wistful, yearning, sharp-edged and blisteringly incisive ... this is the composer reinvented for the 21st century.In September 2014 Andrew Manze became the Principal Conductor of the NDR Radiophilharmonie in Hannover and immediately made headlines.

If it continues like this,wrote the Neue Presse in November 2014,the NDR Radiophilharmonie will soon be looked at with envy by the rest of the musical world, as what new Principal Conductor Andrew Manze is brewing up ... can be deemed sensational.

NDR Radiophilharmonie
Andrew Manze, conductor

Sensuously Mediterranean sounds and Northern solemnity shake hands on this recording of Mendelssohn’s Italian and Reformation symphonies (Nos. 4 and 5). This is the second release in a series of recordings in multi-channel surround sound for PENTATONE by the conductor Andrew Manze and the NDR Radiophilharmonie. Expectations are high after the first album of this series, a recording of Mendelssohn’s first and third symphonies, was crowned with a 2017 Jahrespreis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik.

It’s no wonder that Robert Schumann dubbed Mendelssohn the “Mozart of the nineteenth century”; with his felicitous gift for melody and meticulous craftsmanship, his music positively brims with youthful spontaneity and exuberance, blending dreamy poetic flights with moments of affecting tenderness and serenity. All this comes together in his Italian symphony, that is so full of joie de vivre, so sparkling with energy and esprit, so full of Mediterranean gaiety. Far beyond the picturesque, the piece offers Mendelssohn’s profoundly personal reflection, transformed into music, on the impressions made on his senses by the landscape, architecture, lifestyle, and people of Italy.

Equally personal is Mendelssohn’s Reformation symphony, in which the devoutly Christian composer aimed to combine elements and traditions of sacred instrumental music with those of an autonomous symphony. The result is highly original: a so-called finale symphony, in which the programmatic destination of the entire work is oriented towards the finale, based on the Lutheran chorale “A mighty fortress is our God”.

Renowned for his boundless energy and scholarly knowledge and with many critically acclaimed recordings in a broad repertoire, Manze is celebrated as one of the most stimulating and inspirational conductors of his generation.

“Manze's take is wholly individual,” wrote the Guardian. “[Brahms’ symphonies] burst with life, by turns wistful, yearning, sharp-edged and blisteringly incisive … this is the composer reinvented for the 21st century.”

In September 2014 Andrew Manze became the Principal Conductor of the NDR Radiophilharmonie in Hannover and immediately made headlines.

NDR Radiophilharmonie
Andrew Manze, conductor

Booklet for Mendelssohn: Symphonies No. 1 & 3