Felix Mendelssohn composed music for Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” twice in his career. First, as a 17-year-old in 1826, he wrote a concert overture, and later in 1842, a few years before his death, he wrote incidental music for a production of the play, incorporating the existing overture. Chailly’s Gewandhaus performance is lively and effective. Listen to that donkey clarinet in the overture!
Von Weber’s Konzertstück portrays the story of a medieval lady longing for her absent knight, agonizing over his safety, excitedly anticipating his return, and finally rejoicing in their reunion. Martin Helmchen’s entrance in this piece might irritate some people (it did me), but the continuation makes it one of the most meaningful interpretations of Weber’s note spinning I have ever heard.
To chill out, try the 1817 A major nocturne by John Field. His Nocturnes were the benchmark for Chopin’s nocturnes from about 15 years later, and No. 4 is the most Chopinesque of the series.
Enjoy this program!
Frank Bridge (1879 -1941)
A Fairy Tale Suite (1917)
Track 01 The Princess
Track 02 The Ogre
Track 03 The Spell
Track 04 The Prince
Ashley Wass, piano.
Recorded 2005
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847)
A Midsummer Dream Incidental Music Op.61
Track 05 Overture
Track 06 Scherzo
Track 07 Intermezzo
Track 08 Nocturne
Track 09 Wedding March
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Riccardo Chailly, conductor.
Recorded 2013
Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1828)
Track 10 Konzertstück Für Klavier Und Orchester F-Moll Op. 79 (1815/1821)
Martin Helmchen, piano.
Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin,
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor.
Recorded 2021
John Field (1782-1837)
Track 11 Nocturne no.4 in A-major (1817)
Elizabeth Joy Roe, piano
Recorded 2015
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