Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 'Italian'

Classical Music Datebook: May 13

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy conducts the premiere of his Symphony No.4, "Italian." On May 13, 1833, Mendelssohn's Symphony No.4 was first performed in London at a Royal Philharmonic Society concert.

Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90, known as Italian, is an orchestral symphony composed by by Felix Mendelssohn, a German composer. 

Like Mendelssohn's "Scottish Symphony" and the orchestral overture "The Hebrides" (Fingal's Cave), "Italian" was also inspired during his tour of Europe from 1829 to 1831. His inspiration was the colour and atmosphere of Italy. Symphony No. 4 was completed in 1833.

Mendelssohn's Oratorio Elijah, Op. 70

Choral Music / Sacred Music / Oratorio

Considered his best work, at par with Haydn's The Creation

Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah, op.70: facts, the cast, brief history, and other Mendelssohn-related information.

Oratorio Elijah is considered the greatest work of Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in this genre. 

Facts about Oratorio Elijah

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847), a German composer of the Romantic era, born in Hamburg, Germany. 

Original Title: Elias (Elijah, at the first performance)

Original Language: German (English, at the first performance)

Text: Based on the Holy Bible passages, the story of Elijah from the Books of Kings, compiled by Mendelssohn himself. He was assisted by Julius Schubring and Karl Klingemann.

Form: Oratorio in Two Parts, a total of 42 musical numbers, with an introduction and overture . 

Date of Writing: 1845-1846.

First Performance: August 26, 1846, in Birmingham. Mendelssohn conducted with the world-famous Jenny Lind in the soprano role. 


(Note: Watch in YouTube to enjoy the entire oratorio playlist.)


Mendelssohn's Oratorio ELIJAH, Op. 70. 

The Cast

The Widow (soprano)

The Youth (soprano)

The Angel (soprano)

Another Angel (alto)

Jezebel, the Queen, (alto)

Obadiah (tenor)

Ahab, King of Israel (tenor)

Elijah, the Prophet (bass)

Four-part mixed chorus

Orchestra: Flutes, clarinets, bassoons, oboes, horns, trumpets, trombones, timpani, strings, one bass tuba.

Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 'Scottish'

Classical Music Milestone / Symphony. March 3.

The Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, known as the Scottish, is composed by Felix Mendelssohn between 1829 and 1842.  The first performance took place on 3 March 1842 in Leipzig Gewandhaus. It is not known when he resumed work on it although sketches suggest he may have returned to the first movement in the late 1830s, but he worked earnestly on the piece by 1841, and completed the symphony in Berlin on January 20, 1842.  Although this work was the fifth and final of his symphonies to be completed, it was the third to be published, and subsequently, been known as Symphony No. 3.



Brief History of Symphony No. 3   

Mendelssohn was initially inspired to compose this symphony during his first visit to Britain in 1829. After a series of successful performances in London, Mendelssohn embarked on a walking tour of Scotland with his friend Karl Klingemann. On July 30, he visited the ruins of Holyrood Chapel at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, where, as he related to his family in a letter, he received his initial inspiration for the piece:

Mendelssohn's On Wings of Song

Classical Music / Music & Song

"On Wings of Song" (German: "Auf Flügeln des Gesanges"), is a song by German composer Felix Mendelssohn, the second of his "six songs for voice and piano" (Opus 34-2, 1834). He dedicated it to his beloved older sister, Fanny Mendelssohn, also a composer. The music is a setting of the poem "Auf Flügeln des Gesanges" by the German Romantic poet Heinrich Heine published in his Buch der Lieder in 1827. Franz Liszt arranged On Wings of Song for solo piano (S. 547). This song has been translated into other languages and has been adopted in school music textbooks for China, Japan and Korea.

Thanks to Youtube uploader Papermoon2011, together with the lyrics in English translation, here's a beautiful rendition of an all-time favourite short composition from Felix Mendelssohn,  "Auf Flügeln des Gesanges" (English: "On Wings of Song"), sung by tenor Peter Schreier, accompanied on the piano by pianist Walter Olbertz.




Lyrics (English translation) 

On wings of song,  my love,
I'll carry you away to the fields of the Ganges.
Where I know the most beautiful place.
There lies a red-flowering garden, in the serene moonlight,
the lotus-flowers await. Their beloved sister.

The violets giggle and cherish, and look up at the stars,
The roses tell each other secretly their fragrant fairy-tales.
The gentle, bright gazelles, pass and listen;
and in the distance murmurs the waves of the holy stream.

There we will lay down, under the palm-tree,
and drink of love and peacefulness.
And dream our blessed dream.

Links to Mendelssohn's all-time favourite  "Auf Flugeln des Gesanges": 

6 Gesänge, Op. 34: No. 2, Auf Flügeln des Gesanges. Sung by Peter Schreier. YouTube. Accessed June 26, 2023.

Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (Song). Oxford International Festival.  [Lyrics in English & German]

Felix Mendelssohn: Auf Fluegeln des Gesanges - Julian Pregardien & Els Biesemans. YouTube, uploaded by Els Biesemans. Accessed June 26, 2023.  

Felix Mendelssohn - On Wings of Song. YouTube, uploaded by NancyFloresSantos. Accessed Sept 11, 2016. 

Jascha Heifetz Felix Mendelssohn On Wings of Song Op 34 No 2. YouTube, uploaded by JessieMelody1. Accessed June 26, 2023.

Mendelssohn: Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, Op. 34, No. 2. YouTube, sung by Kiri Te Kanawa. Accessed June 26, 2023.

Mendelssohn: Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, Op. 34, No. 2. Song of the cello, performed by Mischa Maisky. Accessed June 26, 2023.

Resources:

On Wings of Song (Mendelssohn). Wikipedia.  

On Wings of Song (Poem). Wikipedia. 

Naturally, Google Search for links...

(c) September 11, 2014. Updated June 26, 2023. Tel Asiado. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.