Mendelssohn at ‘Romantic Expressions’

The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka’s concert, ‘Romantic Expressions’, will feature two of German composer Felix Mendelssohn’s much-loved works: the First Piano Concerto and the Hebrides Overture.  

Shanthi Dias (née Thambar) one of Sri Lanka’s most accomplished pianists, will perform the concerto—her wonderful skill and technique are perfectly matched to this brilliant work.

The concert is directed by yet another prominent Sri Lankan musician, Dushyanthi Perera, who has for some years now led the SOSL in a number of excellent concerts.

Born in 1809, Mendelssohn’s development as a musician was not hindered by struggle or financial hardships unlike many other composers.  He was born to an affluent family who encouraged and financed his development. A child prodigy, he gave his public debut as a pianist at the age of 9.  Mendelssohn started composing at the age of 12 and produced an astonishing number of works for one so young. Beethoven, who heard Mendelssohn perform at this young age made a prophetic note in his diary – “Mendelssohn – 12 years old – promises much.”

By his late teens, Mendelssohn was already producing full-blown masterpieces. In particular, the mastery of his string octet and the overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream resulted in comparisons to Mozart. Of the incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the best known work is the majestic Wedding March.

Mendelssohn was a composer who was influenced by his travels.  On a trip to Scotland in 1829, he was inspired into writing his Scottish Symphony and the Hebrides Overture.  The Hebrides was not written as a prelude to a larger work—it is, in essence, an early tone-poem, evoking the many moods of the seas around the Hebridean isles and the mysterious ‘Fingal’s Cave.’  On a later trip to Italy he went on to compose his Italian Symphony. 

Mendelssohn was not just a great pianist and composer. He was a proficient conductor as well, who was given the job of conductor at the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in 1835, when he was just 26. Few know that Mendelssohn was one of the first conductors to use a baton to beat time when he stood in front of the orchestra. 

His first Piano Concerto was composed in 1831 and he was the soloist at the premier performance.  His amazing skill as a pianist and the lyricism of this composition wowed the audience and this concerto went on to become a standard in his concert repertoire.  

Mendelssohn was extremely close to his sister, Fanny, who was also a fine musician herself.  The untimely death of his beloved sister affected Mendelssohn greatly and led to his early demise. Even though he was only 38 at the time of his death, he had already established himself as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic period.

‘Romantic Expressions’, which also features French composer Bizet’s L’Arelesienne Suites, takes place on 2 November at the Ladies’ College Hall. Tickets and the box plan are at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.

The concert is sponsored by East India Holdings with the support of the Electronic Media sponsors Yes FM, TV1 and Legends 96.6 and Creative Partner Wunderman Thompson.