Mendelssohn & His Contemporaries
Continuing the Mendelssohn bicentenary, Thomas Fey and the Heidelberg Symphony offer the delightful and robust String Symphonies. Lost for many years, they were rediscovered in the State Library of East Berlin in 1950. By the mid 20th century, Mendelssohn had become somewhat old fashioned in many critics' estimation — as Queen Victoria's favorite composer, the idea of being stuffy was not lost on anyone and may have come with the territory. His renewed adulation and reappraisal came after World War II, with the 12 string symphonies leading the way — ample proof once again of the inventive genius of Mendelssohn.
The String Symphonies were composed when Felix was between 11 and 13 years old and were probably a trial run for his first full-scale symphony, written when he was 15. As a child prodigy, Mendelssohn rivaled Mozart and these small gems are a highlight of his teenage years. The symphonies, short and compact, have a baroque quality — full of imitation, canon and fugue — as well as a nod toward Haydn, with playful development and dainty orchestration. They are a fertile field of imagination and innate intelligence. The outer movements are energetic and fast paced, while the slower movements are poignant and sensitive. Self confident and assured, young Master Mendelssohn attacks the genre with no pretense. Overall, they are youthful, bright and full of sparkle and sunshine.
Thomas Fey founded the Heidelberg Symphony in 1993 with a focus first on Baroque music and then the Viennese Classical Period. These Mendelssohn works fit the mold perfectly and are played expertly, making for a definitive performance. The orchestra displays...more details
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