Mendelssohn Day - 01/02/2009

Andrew McGregor and Sarah Walker present a day of concerts from the European Broadcasting Union, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn's birth. Featuring Nikolaj Znaider playing the Violin Concerto in E minor; two concerts from St Thomas's Church, Leipzig, where Mendelssohn first gave a concert of Bach's music in 1840; songs with and without words performed at Wigmore Hall, London, by Ailish Tynan (soprano) and Llyr Williams (piano); and two of Mendelssohn's string quartets performed by the Gewandhaus Quartet from the Mendelssohn Hall in the Gewandhaus, Leipzig. Throughout the day, Sarah shares her experience of a recent trip to Leipzig, where she visited several of the places closely associated with Mendelssohn's life and work in Germany. 12.00pm Concert 1 - from Konzerthaus, Berlin Mendelssohn: Overture (The Hebrides - Fingal's Cave, Op 26); Concerto in E minor for violin and orchestra, Op 64; Symphony No 4 in A (Italian), Op 90 Dresden Staatskapelle Nikolaj Znaider (conductor/violin) 2.00pm Concert 2 - from St Thomas's Church, Leipzig Mendelssohn: Postlude in D for organ in D (1831) - played in E flat Bach: Fugue in E flat, BWV 552, No 2; Schmucke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 654 (Achtzehn Chorale von verschiedener Art); Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543; Passacaglia in C minor, BWV 582; Pastorale in F, BWV 590; Toccata in D minor, BWV 565 Mendelssohn: Allegro in D minor, as 'Free Fantasy' Ullrich Bohme (organ) 3.00pm Concert 3 - from Wigmore Hall, London Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words), Op 19, Nos 1, 3, 4 and 5; Op 30, No 6; Op 38, No 3 Llyr Williams (piano) Mendelssohn: Neue Liebe, Op 19a, No 4; Die Liebende schreibt, Op 86, No 3; Suleika, Op 34, No 4 Ailish Tynan (soprano) Llyr Williams (piano) Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words), Op 62, No 6; Op 67, Nos 4 and 5; Op 85, No 4; Op 102, Nos 5 and 6 Llyr Williams (piano) Mendelssohn: Suleika, Op 57, No 3; Der Blumenstrauss, Op 47, No 5; Wenn sich zwei Herzen scheiden, Op 99, No 5; Auf Flugeln des Gesanges, Op 34, No 2 Ailish Tynan (soprano) Llyr Williams (piano) 4.00pm Concert 4 - from St Thomas's Church, Leipzig Mendelssohn: Organ Sonata in C minor, Op 65, No 2 (excerpts); Richte mich, Gott, Psalm 43, motet for eight-part chorus, Op 78, No 2; Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen uber dir, for eight-part chorus (Psalm 91); Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, (Psalm 98) for soloists, eight-part chorus and orchestra, Op 91; Wie der Hirsch schreit (Psalm 42) for soloists, four-part chorus and orchestra, Op 42; Verlich uns Frieden gnadiglich, choral cantata for four-part chorus and orchestra Ullrich Bohme (organ) Motet Choir of St Thomas's Choir Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra Georg Christoph Biller (director/conductor) 5.00pm Concert 5 - from Mendelssohn Hall, Gewandhaus, Leipzig Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E flat, Op 12; String Quartet in F minor, Op 80 Gewandhaus Quartet 6.00pm Concert 6 - from Nikolaisaal, Potsdam Lutoslawski: Overture for Strings Potsdam Kammerakademie Michael Sanderling (conductor) Mendelssohn (arr. Siegfried Matthus): Leise zieht durch mein Gemut (12 Lieder for high voice and orchestra) Ruth Ziesak (soprano) Potsdam Kammerakademie Michael Sanderling (conductor) 7.00pm Concert 7 - from Mendelssohn House, Leipzig Mendelssohn: Piano Sextet in D, Op 110; Abegg Variations, Op 1; Andante (Tema con variazioni) in E and Scherzo in A minor for string quartet, Op 81, Nos 1 and 2 Gewandhaus Quartet Margarita Hohenrieder (piano) Christian Ockert (double bass).