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Donald Macleod explores the period of 1844 when Mendelssohn was at the height of his career

Felix Mendelssohn has been described as one of the most gifted and versatile musical prodigies ever, becoming a prolific composer writing in many genres from incidental stage and symphonic music, to works for chamber ensembles and solo piano. However, his was a life which was cut short in his thirties. Towards the end of his life, he was at the height of his fame, and at the forefront of German music not only as a composer, but also as conductor, pianist, organist and teacher. In this series, Composer of the Week focuses upon the final five years of Mendelssohn’s life, as Donald Macleod surveys the many iconic works he composed during that period, and journeys through Mendelssohn’s extremely hectic schedule which undoubtably led to the composer's early demise.

1844 was a milestone year for Felix Mendelssohn. His fame had reached such a pitch that he was now, on a visit to the UK, granted private audiences with Queen Victoria, who was a huge fan of his. An offer also came from the USA for Mendelssohn to direct a music festival in New York. However, realising that he was doing too much, Mendelssohn at last managed to successfully negotiate with the King of Prussia to reduce his workload, having faced many battles with the clergy in Berlin over the standard of sacred singing and music. Mendelssohn’s return to Germany saw a less hectic period, and enabled him to complete one of his most iconic works, his Violin Concerto. The famed violinist Fritz Kreisler called this work the jewel of all violin concertos.

O for the wings of a dove! (From Hear My Prayer)
Rachel Bennett, soprano
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
Mark Williams, organ
Richard Marlow

Lieder ohne Worte in B flat, Op 62 No 2, 5
Lieder ohne Worte in E flat, Op 67 No 1
Norberto Capelli, piano
Hector Moreno, piano

Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 64
Maxim Vengerov, violin
Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig
Kurt Masur, conductor

Organ Sonata No 5 in D, Op 65
William Whitehead, organ

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales