Mendelssohn: 4. Sinfonie (»Italienische«) ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Christoph Eschenbach

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy:
4. Sinfonie A-Dur op. 90 (»Italienische«) ∙

I. Allegro vivace 00:12 ∙
II. Andante con moto 10:47 ∙
III. Con moto moderato 17:27 ∙
IV. Saltarello. Presto 23:38 ∙

hr-Sinfonieorchester – Frankfurt Radio Symphony ∙
Christoph Eschenbach, Dirigent ∙

Kronberg Festival 2023 ∙
Abschlusskonzert ∙
Casals Forum Kronberg, 3. Oktober 2023 ∙

#4K

© 2023
Hessischer Rundfunk (hr)

[h-mh]

Eschenbachs Dirigat ist so präzise, so unaufgeregt, so auf den PUnkt - und das Orchester reagiert mit tollen Tempi, brilliantem Ton und bringt so viel Farbe und Schwung in die "Italienische" das man immer wieder spontan in Applaus ausbrechen möchte.
Der Jubel am Ende ist so was von verdient!

[parintelebaiazid]

Magnificent orchestra! And I must confess I'm in love with the principal flutist!😍

[karlmatsumoto]

It is miraculous to hear a grand performance in the old symphonic tradition like this in 2024 with such astonishing aural clarity. Sheer perfection.

[staffanolofsson]

Joyful music under Christoph Eschenbach. As I once heard him in Amsterdam, I have a strong confidence in his ability to make this "italienische" music the best for all of us. I am delighted, his ability together with this hr-Sinfonieorchester to make this Mendelssohns most joyful music to come fully alive is unbroken. Thank you master, and also thanks to this wonderful orchestra!

[LucienMarine]

At the age of 20, in 1829, Mendelssohn set off to travel the roads of Europe and gave concerts which were enthusiastically received by the public. During his travels, Mendelssohn also visited Italy. It was in 1830, during a trip to Rome, that he wrote down the first notes of his Fourth Symphony, hence his nickname of the Italian. This stay put the composer in a pleasant state of mind and here is what he said about it: « I did not find music in art itself, but in ruins, landscapes, the gaiety of nature. » True to the Beethovenian scheme, the symphony is divided into four movements. If the color of the A major and the general atmosphere can echo Mendelssohn's journey, it is especially in the first and last movements that we perceive the Italianness of the work the most. The symphony opens with an Allegro vivace, that is to say a movement of lively character, written here in the solar key of A major. The climate is joyful, festive. The second movement changes mood, the tone becomes darker and leaves a melancholic veil hanging over the score. The theme, stated on the oboe, bassoon and viola, would take up a Bohemian pilgrimage song. Then comes the scherzo, a fairly fast three-beat movement, heir to the minuet. Here we find the key of A major and the playful character of the beginning. The symphony ends with a leaping and whirling Presto, which takes the form of a saltarello, a wild dance of Italian origin. Felix Mendelssohn wrote to his sister Fanny: « The symphony will be the most joyful piece I have ever composed, especially in its last movement », in comparison with the fifth which will not be unanimous with the public. Let us savor this one rightly so. *Lucien*

[rolandonavarro]

Magnífica interpretación. Grande Eschenbach, excelentísima orquesta y buen trabajo de cámaras y producción. Bravo 👏

[yoneshima]

It is a wonderful performance that stands out for its delicate and transparent beauty, as if woven with silken threads into a dense fabric. The maestro's musicality comes through.

[mariaesperanza]

Bravo! Una vez más, mi querida orquesta

[violinhunter]

This is definitely one of the best European orchestras.

[notaire]

Lebhafte und wunderschöne Aufführung dieser romantischen und perfekt komponierten Sinfonie mit seidigen Tönen aller Streicher, milden Tönen aller Holzbläser und vor allem brillanten Tönen aller Blechbläser. Der zweite Satz klingt besonders schön und echt lyrisch. Im Kontrast klingt der letzte Satz echt lebhaft und auch beweglich. Der intelligente und erfahrene Dirigent leitet das ausgezeichnete Orchester im rhythmischen Tempo und mit angenehmer Dynamik. Einfach wunderbar!

[wdashwor]

Bravo! This work is such a miracle. As with many Mozart works, you get impression that no human could have written this; it must have been created in some higher, divine realm and just dropped on earth. Magnificent, magnificent performance! That last movement—WOW!

[JRazEd]

this mendelson guy knew what he was doing

[ChanwoongBae]

에셴바흐도 나이가 많이 드셨네. 왼손을 다친 이후로 손모양이 부자연스러워서 너무나 아쉽다. 하지만 카잘스 포룸의 영웅임은 틀림없다.

[Ronaldinhobest]

A very blurry impression. This is one of my favorite Western orchestras, always practically standard works (until Paavo Jarvi left). But the amount of defects that I heard in such famous music... is unthinkable. Even where, it would seem, it should not be, especially in the joint playing of brass players. But even in the finale, the string players had a moment on the verge of divergence... I couldn’t believe my ears. I hope this is the “merit” of the conductor, and not a decline in the level of the whole ensemble. With the most heartfelt feelings, your long-time listener 🙏.