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Donald Macleod focuses on the launch of Felix's career and the different path that Fanny took. With Fanny's Ferne, and Felix's Frage, Op 9 No 1, String Quartet No 2 and Hora Est.

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.

The programme looks at the launch of Felix's career with his famous Octet, which was composed in 1825. Fanny's composing and playing, on the other hand, was limited to amateur music-making in soirees held at the family home.

Including a group of Fanny's songs published under Felix's name, a string quartet inspired by a love song, two works written for Fanny's birthday and an excerpt from the operetta Felix wrote for his parents' silver wedding anniversary.

Fanny Mendelssohn: Ferne (Felix's Op 9 No 2); Der Rosenkranz (Felix's Op 9 No 3); Die fruhen Graber (Felix's Op 9 No 4)
Susan Gritton (soprano)
Eugene Asti (piano)
Hyperion CDA67110, Trs 3-5
Durations: 2m23s, 2m35s, 3m32s

Mendelssohn: Frage, Op 9 No 1
Margaret Price (soprano)
Graham Johnson (piano)
Hyperion CDA 66666, Tr 2
Duration: 1m27s

Mendelssohn: String Quartet No 2 in A minor, Op 13 (1st mvt)
Emerson String Quartet
DG 477 5370 CD1
Duration: 7m35s

Mendelssohn: Hora Est
Chamber Choir of Europe
Nicol Matt (conductor)
Brilliant Classics 99997 CD6, Tr 1
Duration 8m46s

Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte, Op 19, No 5
Luba Edlina (piano)
Chandos 89489 Tr 5
Duration: 3m58s

Mendelssohn: Heimkehr aus de Fremde (excerpt)
Lisbeth ...... Helen Donath (soprano)
Mother ...... Hanna Schwarz (mezzo-soprano)
Hermann ...... Peter Schreier (tenor)
Kauz ...... Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bass-baritone)
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Munchner Rundfunkorchester
Heinz Wallberg (conductor)
CPO 9995552 Trs 20-26
Duration: 13m14s.

1 hour

Broadcasts

  • Tue 5 May 2009 12:00
  • Tue 5 May 2009 22:00

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