Composer of the Week - Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn (1809-1847 and 1805-1847) - Episode 2

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.