Sehnsucht and Wanderlust

Available for 29 days

This week, Kate Molleson follows Felix Mendelssohn's journeys across Europe. In today's episode, we explore the composer's privileged yet restless youth, from the cultural riches of the Mendelssohn household in Berlin to formative encounters with Goethe, Switzerland's mountain landscapes and the musical gatekeepers of Paris. As Mendelssohn's talent blossoms, so too does a lifelong love of travel. Along the way, we discover how family ambition, artistic mentorship and the lure of distant horizons helped shape one of the most gifted musical minds of the 19th century. Symphony No. 4 in A major 'Italian', Op. 90 City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Edward Gardner, conductor Rondo capriccioso in E major, Op. 14 Bertrand Chamayou, piano Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 21 Boston Symphony Orchestra Seiji Ozawa, conductor Piano Quartet in F minor, Op. 2 (Adagio) The Schubert Ensemble Octet in E flat major, Op. 20 (Allegro moderato) Quatuor Ébène Belcea Quartet Produced by Ellie Ajao for BBC Audio Wales and West.