Episode 4

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, two sibling prodigies whose lives took very different paths, but whose music had much in common.

He examines how Felix had become a hugely popular figure in England and Germany and, with the publication of his oratorio St Paul, how his fame spread across the world. Six months into his job as Leipzig Gewandhaus director, he then met his future wife. Meanwhile, Fanny continued to occupy herself with her popular musical soirees, and when the opportunity arose for her to spend a year in Italy, she finally received the recognition for her musical talents she had always craved.

Featuring two of Fanny's most important compositions inspired by her trip, two works by Felix written following his marriage and a group of songs written expressly to sing out of doors.

Mendelssohn: St Paul (excerpt from Part 1)
Gundula Janowitz (soprano)
Hans Peter Blochwitz (tenor)
Paul ...... Theo Adam (bass)
Rundfunkchor
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Kurt Masur (conductor)
Philips 420 801-2, CD1 Trs 19-20
Duration: 5m52s

Mendelssohn: Sechs Gesange, Op 34, Nos 2,3, 4
Margaret Price (soprano)
Graham Johnson (piano)
Hyperion CDA66666, Trs 8-10
Duration: 8m41s

Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No 2
Stephen Hough (piano)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Lawrence Foster (conductor)
Hyperion CDA66969
Duration: 21m2s

Fanny Mendelssohn: Das Jahr (excerpt)
Lauma Skride (piano)
Sony BMG 88697030162, Tr 12
Duration: 4m28s

Mendelssohn: Sechs Lieder in Freien zu singen, Op 48 Nos 2, 3, 4
Netherlands Chamber Choir
Uwe Gronostay (conductor)
Globe GLO5075, Trs 23-25
Duration: 4m15s.