In Tune - 08/05/2009 Mendelssohn Weekend

Presented by Sean Rafferty. A special Mendelssohn edition from Birmingham Town Hall, launching Radio 3's celebration of the 200th anniversary of the great composer's birth. Featuring the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Nicholas Kraemer in performances of the Ruy Blas Overture and String Symphony No 9. Violinist and Radio 3 New Generation Artist Tai Murray joins the orchestra to play Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor. Thomas Trotter performs on the historic William Hill organ, the very same instrument Mendelssohn himself played during visits to the city. And pianist Andrew Zolinsky gives the premiere performance of a new Song without Words, one of six specially-commissioned for the festival, as well as a rendition of Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso, Op 14. Mendelssohn: Overture (Ruy Blas) BBC Philharmonic Nicholas Kraemer (conductor) Mendelssohn arr WT Best: War March of the Priests Thomas Trotter (organ) Mendelssohn: String Symphony No 9 in C BBC Philharmonic Nicholas Kraemer (conductor) Mendelssohn arr Neil Jenkins: O for the Wings of a Dove (Hear My Prayer) Alice Halstead (soprano) Thomas Trotter (organ) Mendelssohn: Rondo Capriccioso, Op 14 Andrew Zolinsky (piano) Lloyd Moore: Scherzino (new commission) Andrew Zolinsky (piano) Mendelssohn: Organ Sonata No 1 in F minor, Op 65 (3rd mvt) Thomas Trotter (organ) Mendelssohn: Concerto in E minor for violin and orchestra Tai Murray (violin) BBC Philharmonic Nicholas Kraemer (conductor).