London Symphony Orchestra Living Music Sunday 16 October 2016 7pm Thursday 20 October 2016 7.30pm Barbican Hall THE MENDELSSOHN CYCLE CONCLUDES Mendelssohn Violin Concerto INTERVAL Mendelssohn Symphony No 2 (‘Lobgesang’) Sir John Eliot Gardiner conductor Alina Ibragimova violin Lucy Crowe soprano Jurgita Adamonyte˙ mezzo-soprano Michael Spyres tenor Monteverdi Choir 16 Oct finishes approx 9.10pm London’s Symphony Orchestra 20 Oct finishes approx 9.40pm 16 Oct recommended by Classic FM 20 Oct broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 2 Welcome 16 & 20 October 2016 Welcome Living Music Kathryn McDowell In Brief Welcome to this LSO concert at the Barbican for the LSO ON TOUR final instalment of Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s highly successful cycle of Mendelssohn’s orchestral works. These two concerts see the LSO return to the Barbican Tonight he concludes this multi-season project after performances in Bonn and Essen with Sir John by conducting the composer’s Symphony No 2 Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi Choir. The Orchestra (‘Lobgesang’), a ‘symphony-cantata’ that features will then depart again for two more performances of a full chorus and vocal soloists in its second half. this programme in Düsseldorf and Mannheim, before embarking on a short tour to the United States with For this performance the LSO is joined by the Principal Guest Conductor Gianandrea Noseda. Monteverdi Choir, a chorus founded by Sir John Eliot, alongside soprano Lucy Crowe, tenor Michael Spyres, and mezzo-soprano Jurgita Adamonyte˙. MENDELSSOHN ON LSO LIVE Opening the concert, Sir John Eliot conducts While this cycle of performances comes to an end Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, for which we are with ‘Lobgesang’, Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s series delighted to be joined by Alina Ibragimova. In recent of Mendelssohn recordings on LSO Live continues years, she has played with the LSO in works by with the recent release of the First and Fourth Schumann and Mozart, and also in recitals at Symphonies. We are also excited to partner with LSO St Luke’s. Apple Music in bringing you an exclusive preview of Gardiner’s acclaimed interpretation of A Midsummer I hope you enjoy the concert and can join us again Night’s Dream. Visit the Orchestra’s profile page on on 6 November, when the LSO celebrates the 80th Apple Music to find out more. birthday of American composer Steve Reich, through performances of three of his orchestral scores with geni.us/LondonSymphony conductor Kristjan Järvi and Synergy Vocals. A WARM WELCOME TO OUR GROUPS The LSO offers great benefits for groups of 10+. At these concerts we are delighted to welcome: Kathryn McDowell CBE DL Managing Director Faversham Music Club Adele Friedland & Friends Gerrards Cross Community Association Lucy Miller Murray & Friends Ann Parish & Friends lso.co.uk/groups London Symphony Orchestra Season 2016/17 LSO Concerts with Chorus EL NIÑO LE GRAND MACABRE GERMAN REQUIEM DAPHNIS AND CHLOÉ Sun 4 Dec 2016 Sat 14 & Sun 15 Jan 2017 Sun 19 Mar 2017 Thu 23 Mar 2017 John Adams El Niño Ligeti Le grand macabre Schubert Symphony No 8 Prokofiev Overture on (semi-staged performance) (‘Unfinished’) Hebrew Themes John Adams conductor Brahms German Requiem Shostakovich Cello Concerto No 1 Joelle Harvey soprano Sir Simon Rattle conductor Ravel Daphnis and Chloé – Jennifer Johnson Cano Peter Sellars director Fabio Luisi conductor complete ballet mezzo-soprano London Symphony Chorus Julia Kleiter soprano Daniel Bubeck, Brian Cummings, Simon Halsey chorus director Ruben Drole bass-baritone Alain Altinoglu conductor Nathan Medley countertenors London Symphony Chorus Gautier Capuçon cello Davone Tines bass Produced by the LSO and the Barbican. Simon Halsey chorus director London Symphony Chorus London Symphony Chorus Part of the LSO 2016/17 Season and Simon Halsey chorus director Simon Halsey chorus director Barbican Presents. LSO Sing is supported by the John S Cohen Foundation, LSO Friends, Rothschild Charities lso.co.uk Committee, Barnett & Sylvia Shine No 2 Charitable Trust, Slaughter and May and Sir Siegmund Warburg’s Voluntary Settlement. 020 7638 8891 4 Programme Notes 16 & 20 October 2016 Felix Mendelssohn (1809–47) Violin Concerto in E minor Op 64 (1838–44) 1 ALLEGRO MOLTO APPASSIONATO Mendelssohn, it is said, disliked applause between 2 ANDANTE movements, and therefore decided to link the first 3 ALLEGRETTO NON TROPPO – ALLEGRO MOLTO VIVACE two movements by way of a single bassoon note that hangs in the air. After a brief prologue, the solo ALINA IBRAGIMOVA VIOLIN violin plays the movement’s sweet, singing main melody. The orchestra initiates the more agitated PROGRAMME NOTE WRITER In 1825, the 16-year-old Felix Mendelssohn met central section, but the mood here is one of passion ALISON BULLOCK is a freelance the 15-year-old violinist Ferdinand David; the two rather than disruption, and the atmosphere soon writer and music consultant whose prodigies would become both great friends and returns to the quiet reverence of the opening. interests range from Machaut to musical partners. 13 years later, in one of his many Messiaen and beyond. She is a letters to the violinist, Mendelssohn mentioned Once again, Mendelssohn denies the audience former editor for the New Grove that he wanted to write a violin concerto for him; the chance to shuffle in their seats between the Dictionary of Music, and the LSO. however, it was not until 1843 that he was able Andante and the finale, creating a bridge passage to give the work his full attention, and it was not that refers to the concerto’s opening theme. An completed until late 1844. Mendelssohn referred unexpected brass fanfare heralds carefree arpeggios FERDINAND DAVID (1810–73) often to David for advice on matters both technical in the violin – and suddenly we are carried headlong first met Mendelssohn while working and artistic; the violinist made numerous changes into a movement whose technical wizardry is as a violinist in Königstadt during to the concerto, and was in fact responsible for its peppered with flashes of fun and wit. Throughout the late 1820s. But their relationship unusual combination of technical feasibility and this wonderful, delicate flight of fancy, Mendelssohn was cemented in 1836 when David virtuosic gloss. introduces several new ideas and melodies. But it is took up the post of Leader for the the graceful, effervescent opening melody that holds Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, where The E minor Concerto’s enduring popularity is due the movement just about under control, eventually Mendelssohn was the Kappellmeister. in no small part to its ease on the ear, and so it is bringing this most inventive yet approachable They enjoyed a close musical easy to forget that it is also full of innovations. The concerto to its dancing conclusion. partnership through the orchestra, immediacy of its first theme is one example: instead as collaborators on this Violin of the usual full orchestral opening, Mendelssohn Concerto, and in chamber settings, has the soloist open the door on the concerto with Mendelssohn joining David after barely a bar of introduction, playing an on the piano for public and private ardent, insistent melody. The orchestra is allowed performances. to introduce the wistful second theme before the INTERVAL – 20 minutes soloist takes it over; however, the gentler mood There are bars on all levels of the Concert Hall; ice cream disappears as suddenly as it came. The central can be bought at the stands on Stalls and Circle level. development section opens dramatically, later The Barbican shop will also be open. dissolving into virtuosic solo figurations that turn out to be the cadenza (written by David), whose Why not tweet us your thoughts on the first half of the dancing arpeggios melt away over the orchestra’s performance @londonsymphony, or come and talk to reprise of the main theme. LSO staff at the Information Point on the Circle level? lso.co.uk Composer Profile 5 Felix Mendelssohn Composer Profile Though everything else may appear shallow and repulsive, even the smallest task in music is so absorbing, and carries us so far away from town, country, earth, and all worldly things, that it is truly a blessed gift of God. Felix Mendelssohn Felix Mendelssohn was the grandson of the The Hebrides. In 1830 he travelled to Enlightenment philosopher Moses Mendelssohn Italy at the suggestion of Goethe and and son of an influential German banker. Born into while in Rome started his so-called a privileged, upper middle-class family, as a boy ‘Scottish’ and ‘Italian’ symphonies. he was encouraged to study the piano, taught to In 1835 he was appointed conductor draw by his mother and became an accomplished of the Leipzig Gewandhaus, greatly linguist and classical scholar. In 1819 he began expanding its repertoire with early composition studies with Karl Friedrich Zelter. music and works of his own, including His family’s wealth allowed their home in Berlin the E minor Violin Concerto. Two years to become a refuge for scholars, artists, writers later he married Cecile Jeanrenaud and in and musicians. The philosopher Hegel and scientist 1843 he founded the Leipzig Conservatory. Humboldt were among regular visitors, and members His magnificent biblical oratorio, Elijah, of the Court Orchestra and eminent soloists were commissioned for and first performed at the available to perform the latest works by Felix or 1846 Birmingham Musical Festival, soon gained his older sister Fanny. Young Mendelssohn’s twelve a place alongside Handel’s Messiah in the string symphonies were first heard in the intimate affections of British choral societies and their setting of his father’s salon. audiences. He died in Leipzig in 1847. Mendelssohn’s maturity as a composer was Composer Profile © Andrew Stewart marked by his Octet (1825) and concert overture to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1826).