Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures | Felix Mendelssohn, Claudio Abbado, ...

Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures | Felix Mendelssohn, Claudio Abbado, ... | Great set

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Mendelssohn: 5 Sym...

	Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures Felix Mendelssohn, Claudio Abbado, ... Deutsche Grammophon, 2002 average customer review:based on 11 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

MENDELSSOHN: 5 Symphonies/7 Overtures (LSO/Claudio Abbado) DG 471 467-2

Unlike many all-digital compilations offered by one orchestra and conductor, this collection of Mendelssohn favorites is outstanding in performance and interpretation throughout. Maestro Abbado shows a genuine affection for the composer and his genius by the sequence of selections on each disc, and I find no weak performances anywhere in this remarkable recording.

Charlie Hastings
Falls Church, VA

Great set

By my calculations, this is the single best set of Mendelssohn symphonies out there today. Though better versions of the "Reformation," "Scottish," and "Italian" Symphonies exist in other disks, I still like the interpretations offered by Abbado and the LSO.

For the "Reformation", and "Italian" Symphonies, I'd recommend John Eliot Gardiner and the Vienna Philharmonic's DG set.

For the Scottish Symphony I'd go with Karajan's recording with the BPO (that CD also comes with the best "Hebrides Overture" recording available, and a pretty good "Italian Symphony" interpretation, too).

All of the overtures in this set are performed very well, both in technical execution and musical interpretation. The Hebrides (a work far ahead of its time), in particular, is a fine recording. So is "Overture 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'." I really have grown fond of the "Ruy Blas" overture as well.

Another reviewer complained that the interpretations in this set are "too Classical." I think they are correct in saying the set is Classically performed, but I think that works with Mendelssohn, as he was "the Romantic Mozart."

Overall this is a great set, and a good way to become familiar with the music of Felix Mendelssohn, or build your Mendelssohn library.

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Mendelssohn Rocks!

From the first entrances, the symphonies and overtures of Felix Mendelssohn come alive under the expert direction of Maestro Claudio Abbado. Sensitive phrasings and dynamics make the most of Mendelssohn's lyric melodic lines, helping to shape each work into a cohesive whole. The "Hymn of Praise" contains some rather extreme dynamic levels, in my opinion, but overall, it is a stunning collection, with excellent soloists and choir. I highly recommend the two-disc set to anyone fond of Mendelssohn's music!

The best complete Mendelssohn symphonies I've found.

I've waited for years to buy a complete set of Mendelssohn symphonies and having listened to a less-than-ideal rendition of the "Lobgesang" recently, I decided it was time. I'm either glad I waited or wish I'd bought this recording ages ago, though I doubt such a bargain was available then -- this is wonderful Mendelssohn and the inclusion of the overtures and the scherzo from the Octet op. 20 in the composer's own orchestration (written as an alternate scherzo for his first symphony) is an intriguing and delightful inclusion.

Abbado seems to choose just the right tempi (perhaps a bit slower in places than, say, Gardiner and certainly slower than Toscanini) and he slightly slows the music or speeds it up at just the right places where such emphases are needed. As expected, the London Symphony's sound is beautifully rich and warm, but Mendelssohn's counterpoint such as the woodwind suspensions in the introduction of no. 2 and the tossing around of the counter themes in the fugal passages of no. 4's Saltarello are brought to the fore in ways I've never heard in other recordings or in live performances. I especially appreciate Abbado's approach to no. 5: He takes the composer at his word and conducts the musical representation of Protestantism's early struggle (and mystery and beauty exemplified in the Dresden Amen) by giving its first movement the powerful reading it deserves. Martin Luther would be proud.

I must advocate a bit for the symphony no. 2. So often with symphonic/choral works (as opposed to expressly and primarily vocal works such as operas), performances and recordings feature second-rate performers and half-hearted renditions. It's a Catch-22 because such performances sustain the music's lack of popularity, as if the increased forces (and their financial obligation) dictate their musical worth. Mendelssohn's 2nd is another very fine work relegated to neglect for these same reasons and it's unfortunate that only in a complete symphonies compilation will its beauties be appreciated. However, Abbado and the LSO make a great case -- the singing is superlative both by the soloists and the chorale and one can hear THE ORGAN!

I highly recommend this recording.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

Tracks
1. Allegro molto | 2. Andante | 3. Menuetto. Allegro molto | 4. Allegro con fuoco | Scherzo in G minor | 1. Sinfonia: Maestoso con moto - Allegro - Maestoso con moto come I. | 1. Sinfonia: Allegretto un poco agitato | 1. Sinfonia: Adagio religioso | 2. Allegro moderato maestoso - Allegro di molto: "Alles, was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn" | 2. Molto più moderato ma con fuoco: "Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele" | 3. Recitativo: "Saget es, die ihr erlöset seid durch den Herrn" | 3. Allegro moderato: "Er zählet unsre Tränen in der Zeit der Not" | 4. Chor. A tempo moderato: "Sagt es, die ihr erlöset seid" | 5. Andante: "Ich harrete des Herrn" | 6. Allegro un poco agitato - Allegro assai agitato - Tempo 1 moderato: "Stricke des Todes hatten un | 7. Allegro maestoso e molto vivace: "Die Nacht ist vergangen" | 8. Choral. Andante con moto - Un poco più animato: "Nun danket alle Gott" | 9. Andante sostenuto assai: "Drum sing' ich mit meinem Liede ewig dein Lob" | 10. Allegro non troppo - Più vivace - Maestoso com 1: "Ihr Völker, bringet her dem Herrn Ehre und M | 1. Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitato | 2. Vivace non troppo | 3. Adagio | 4. Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assai | 1. Allegro vivace | 2. Andante con moto | 3. Con moto moderato | 4. Saltarello. Presto | 1. Andante - Allegro con fuoco | 2. Allegro vivace | 3. Andante | 4. Chorale "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott" Andante con moto - Allegro maestoso

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