Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, 'Scottish' / Overture: The Hebrides / Schumann: Piano Concerto Maria Joao Pires, London Symphony Orchestra & Sir John Eliot Gardiner

• Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847): Overture
• 1 The Hebrides in D Major, Op. 26, MWV P7, Fingal's Cave 10:01
• Piano Concerto in A minor
• 2 I. Allegro affettuoso 15:20
• 3 II. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso 05:04
• 4 III. Allegro vivace 11:04
• Symphony No 3 in A minor
• 5 I. Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitato - Assai animato 15:02
• 6 II. Vivace non troppo 04:11
• 7 III. Adagio 08:56
• 8 IV. Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assai 09:39
• Total Runtime 01:19:17

Info for Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, 'Scottish' / Overture: The Hebrides / Schumann: Piano Concerto

LSO Live presents the first in a series exploring the complete symphonies of Felix Mendelssohn under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Also featured on this release is the eminent Portuguese pianist, Maria João Pires, in the inaugural concerto recording on the label.

Inspired by his travels to the British Isles and full of the influence of the rolling Scottish landscape, both Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 ‘Scottish’ and his Hebrides Overture (‘Fingal’s Cave’) are amongst the composer’s most popular and celebrated works.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner writes of this coupling: 'Even if they spoke with different accents these genial Romantics were united in their ambitious fervour for ‘abstract’ music to be acknowledged as having the same expressive force as poetry, drama or the literary novel. The three works on this album exemplify the endeavour and range of invention of two of them, friends and colleagues in Leipzig.'

“a reading formed by life experience…Pires is supported by conductor and orchestra magnificently...I’ve never heard so much of the orchestral colour and detail in any other Schumann recording … My anticipation that this might be a special recording has been met.” (MusicWeb International)

“Gardiner's Hebrides Overture must be one of the most thrilling ever recorded, adding volleys of sea-spray to well-navigated execution...Ebb and flow is of the essence in this proto-Wagnerian masterpiece and a subtle use of vibrato...Gardiner makes a beeline for individual instrumental details, keeping important woodwind lines to the fore.” (Gramophone)

“this ‘Scottish’ symphony is fresh, vital and even thrilling (a word that doesn’t always come up in discussions of Mendelssohn) as any I’ve ever heard…at its best it is so good that it can be recommended without hesitation.” (International Record Review)

Maria João Pires, piano (on Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54)
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor

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Booklet for Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, 'Scottish' / Overture: The Hebrides / Schumann: Piano Concerto