Iván Fischer conducts Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto featuring Vesko Eschkenazy, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Concertgebouw Orchestra’s concertmaster Vesko Eschkenazy makes a solo appearance in Mendelssohn’s well-loved Violin Concerto. Iván Fischer also conducts Schubert’s Magic Harp Overture and excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including women’s choir and vocal soloists Mirella Hagen and Olivia Vermeulen.
In his imaginative incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mendelssohn captures the dreamlike atmosphere of the narrative like no other.
Concert programme
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Franz Schubert
Overture “Die Zauberharfe” (The Magic Harp), D644
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Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto
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-- interval --
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Felix Mendelssohn
music from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Performers
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Iván Fischer
honorary guest conductor
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Vesko Eschkenazy
1st concertmaster
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Mirella Hagen
soprano
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Olivia Vermeulen
mezzo-soprano
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National Women's Youth Choir
choir
About this concert
Felix Mendelssohn composed little in the final years of his life, but what he did write was pure gold. Iván Fischer is conducting two masterpieces from Mendelssohn’s late period. Our leader Vesko Eschkenazy is the soloist in the vibrant Violin Concerto. Here the soloist hits the ground running – the lack of a customary orchestral introduction characterises this energetic work full of tender warmth, played without pauses between the movements.
Even as a teenager, Mendelssohn was inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, composing a clever overture in which we hear the fairies flitting about. Years later, he added incidental music which is highly imaginative and captures the dreamlike atmosphere of the narrative like no other. One would hardly have suspected that Mendelssohn was ill and would die just five years later – so full of joy and life is the music. This performance features the heavenly voices of the National Women’s Youth Choir, soprano Mirella Hagen and mezzo-soprano Olivia Vermeulen.
Dates and tickets
About this concert
Felix Mendelssohn composed little in the final years of his life, but what he did write was pure gold. Iván Fischer is conducting two masterpieces from Mendelssohn’s late period. Our leader Vesko Eschkenazy is the soloist in the vibrant Violin Concerto. Here the soloist hits the ground running – the lack of a customary orchestral introduction characterises this energetic work full of tender warmth, played without pauses between the movements.
Even as a teenager, Mendelssohn was inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, composing a clever overture in which we hear the fairies flitting about. Years later, he added incidental music which is highly imaginative and captures the dreamlike atmosphere of the narrative like no other. One would hardly have suspected that Mendelssohn was ill and would die just five years later – so full of joy and life is the music. This performance features the heavenly voices of the National Women’s Youth Choir, soprano Mirella Hagen and mezzo-soprano Olivia Vermeulen.