THE Gippsland Symphony Orchestra is returning to The Wedge with a program of works composed by the child prodigy Felix Mendelssohn.
Felix Mendelssohn rightly takes his place in the pantheon of Classical Music greats – a virtuosic instrumentalist and composer, he is considered one of the most important German composers of all time.
His music combines the expressive elements of romantic music with the clarity of classical music, while reflecting the artistic attitude of his time: clarity, balance, and discipline.
The GSO will be performing the Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which Mendelssohn originally composed aged 17 for two pianos and orchestrated at 19, demonstrating his precocious talent.
The overture captures the works of Faires, Oberon, Tatiana, and the myriad of characters that Shakespeare created.
The orchestra will also present two works that are not regularly performed: the 10th String Symphony and the Trauermarsch for Woodwind and Brass.
The featured work for this concert will be the Symphony No. 4 in A Major, op. 90, also know as the Italian – a composition that reflects Mendelssohn’s enthusiasm for travel and particularly Italy.
In a letter to his sister, he wrote effusively of the Symphony No. 4 as being the “happiest piece I have ever written”.
On its premiere performance, the Italian received great acclaim and was widely considered to be the ‘perfect’ symphony.
Ironically, it was in 1851 that the piece was published for the first time, some four years after Mendelssohn’s death.
The Gippsland Symphony Orchestra’s full performance will take place at The Wedge on Sunday, July 31 from 2pm.
Tickets are available through thewedge.com.au and at the box-office.
