Sunday 08 July 2012 7:00 pm
Immer der Felix
Felix Mendelssohn: Sinfonia for strings No 10 in b minor
Fanny Mendelssohn: Schwanenlied, op. 1/1, Wanderlied, op. 1/2
Felix und Fanny Mendelssohn: Four songs from opus 9
Felix Mendelssohn: Venetianisches Gondellied, op. 57/5, Wanderlied, op. 57/6
Fanny Mendelssohn: Nach Süden, op. 10/1, Vorwurf, op. 10/2, Bergeslust, op. 10/5
Felix Mendelssohn: Lied ohne Worte in f sharp minor, op. 67/2
Fanny Hensel: Saltarello romano for piano solo, op. 6/4
Felix Mendelssohn: Lied ohne Worte in D major, op. 85/4, Lied ohne Worte in a minor, op.38/5
Fanny Mendelssohn: String quartet in E flat major
Felix Mendelssohn: Octet in E flat major, op. 20
Excerpts from correspondence between Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn
Christopher Hinterhuber, piano
Solisten des Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Christine Neubauer, as Fanny Mendelssohn
Long before the Waldbühne and Philharmonic Orchestra were established, two children growing up in a Berlin banker family, in an intellectual milieu, were stars in the city’s young music scene. Their home was their muse and their mutual ambition was the foundation of their close relationship. When it came to composing, however, there was nothing but seriousness. Fanny wanted more than her father or brother would allow. Felix laughed gently at his sister’s rebellion and underestimated her motivation. He playfully called her “Herr Kantor”. She envied him; he was allowed to travel, to pursue his happiness. Yet when reading her letters, Felix ignored the extent of his sister’s unfulfilled musical yearnings.
Styriarte presents the Mendelssohn soap-opera through Fanny’s correspondence with her brother. This evening’s music includes one of young Felix’s string symphonies, songs by both siblings, cello pieces they wrote for their brother Paul, the octet and Fanny’s own little-known string quartet.
