Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream - Amsterdam / Szell

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Overture op.21 0:00
- Scherzo op.61 n°1 11:34
- Notturno op.61 n°7 15:57
- Wedding March op.61 n°9 21:39

Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest
George Szell
Studio recording, Amsterdam, 2-4.XII.1957

[dawnlowenstein]

This is a favorite piece of Felix Mendelssohn's which I've really enjoyed in the past 42 years!

[anngrogan]

Mendelssohn is an overlooked genius of the Romantic period. Excessively popular early on, he faded. Why? My current classical concert piano teacher has never even heard any piece from Songs without Words. I was shocked. I now play three of the most gorgeous slower ones (I’m a late life medium-beginner pianist). Said to not have the drama of Beethoven, so what? This has all the drama I need or want. Lovely! Gorgeous presentation! Long live Mendelssohn!!!!

[notaire]

Lebhafte Interpretation dieses romantischen Meisterwerks mit farbenprächtigen Töne aller Instrumente. Der geniale Maestro dirigiert das ausgezeichnete Orchester im relativ schnellen Tempo mit völlig effektiver Dynamik. Ganz schlaflose Nacht im besten Sinne!

[chessiepique]

Thank you so much for sharing this! One of my favorites.

[nannojonkers]

Thx, IM, for what you did to reach this perfectly recorded sound of this dear rendition.

[fuyuotoko]

Szell and Concertgebouw(1957) is great.

[papa_mia]

Best goddamn Scherzo the world has fucking seen (or heard). Nuff said.

[kiichiyamato]

Ich liebe diese Ouvertüre einfach. Mendelssohn ist ein sehr versierter Komponist. Mendelssohn war erst 17 Jahre alt, als er das komponierte.

[bigcedock]

I bet he wished he had Marc Lifschey in the principal oboe chair. Very fine performance, notwithstanding.

[JerryHampton]

The photo looks like Cleveland players??

[hectorberlioz]

Again it is clear that Szell's Concertgebouw/ Philips renderings are better recorded and are ways ahead in clarity, than his Cleveland/CBS counterparts. Also the RCO has always been a much better orchestra (until today) than the rather provincial Cleveland Orchestra.