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Revivals, Revisions and Religion

Donald Macleod investigates Mendelssohn's championing of Bach's music, as well as the obsessive revisions of his own work.

Throughout his life Mendelssohn championed the music of his predecessors, including a remarkable revival of Bach's St Matthew Passion in 1829. Donald Macleod investigates this driving force, as well as Mendelssohn's obsessive revisions of his own compositions.

Part of Radio 3's Composers of the Year 2009 season.

O Mensch, bewein dein Sunde gross (Bach: St Matthew Passion, arr. Mendelssohn)
Chorus Musicus
Das Neue Orchester
Christoph Spering (conductor)
Opus 111
CD1 t24

Prelude and Fugue in E minor, Op 35
Benjamin Frith (piano)
Naxos 8.550939
CD1 t 1 and 2

Symphony No 4, Op 90 (Italian - Revised 1834 version with first movement from original version)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 4591562
CD1 t 1,9,10,11

Thanks be to God! (Elijah)
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
David Jones (chorus master)
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Paul Daniel (conductor)
Decca 4556882
CD1 t22.

1 hour

Broadcasts

  • Thu 29 Jan 2009 12:00
  • Thu 29 Jan 2009 22:00

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