Mission Paganini

We find out more about the next Firebird concert on 22 October which will be one of the highlights of the new season and will feature the world premiere of Yury Revich’s arrangement of Paganini’s 24 Caprices for violin and orchestra…

Buy tickets to see Mission Paganini with Yury Revich

Niccolò Paganini was a major reformer, a great violin virtuoso, and a musician with an incredible charisma. According to legend, he even sold his soul to the devil!

Among Paganini’s many compositions are his 24 Caprices for Violin Op.1. These are considered the most technically difficult works ever written for this instrument.

Violinist Yuri Revich has taken a fresh look at those incredibly demanding pieces by presenting all 24 Caprices for the first time with his newly composed accompaniment for full symphony orchestra.

Yury explains: ‘I believe this new version of the Caprices brings a fusion of the mystery of Paganini’s music and the magic with a modern symphonic sound. I would like to invite you to experience the magic of Paganini in our own time. Mission Paganini, is something you won’t want to miss!’blooded authority, fleet-fingered dexterity, innate musicality and substantial accuracy…’

Paganini was born in what was then the Republic of Genoa – now part of Italy – in 1782. At the age of 18 he was appointed first violin of the Republic of Lucca where his fame as a violinist is said to been matched only by his reputation as a gambler and womaniser. 

In 1805, the region was ceded to Napoleon’s sister, Elisa Baciocchi, who was to become the Grand Duchess of Tuscany. Paganini became a violinist in her court before becoming a travelling virtuoso and composer.

His first big break came in 1813 with an enormous success at La Scala in Milan. In 1827, Pope Leo XII honoured Paganini with the Order of the Golden Spur and his fame spread across Europe.

After a period of chronic illnesses Paganini returned to Parma in 1835 under the employ of Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria, Napoleon’s second wife. But after falling out with the orchestra and the court he left for Paris to set up a casino. Its immediate failure left him in financial ruin, and he auctioned off his personal effects, including his musical instruments before his tragic death in 1840.

Mission Paganini with Yury Revich
Tuesday 22 October 2019, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Donizetti Overture to Don Pasquale
Paganini/Revich The 24 Caprices
Puccini Quando m’en vo’ (from La Boheme) & O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi)

Buy tickets to see Mission Paganini with Yury Revich

Conductor George Jackson
Violin Yury Revich
Soprano Sky Ingram

This concert has been generously sponsored by Rory Graham in memory of James B Cairns

Mission Paganini with Yury Revich

Firebird’s next concert on 22 October sees the return of internationally celebrated violinist Yury Revich and the world premiere of his arrangement of Paganini’s 24 Caprices alongside music by Donizetti and Puccini.

Buy tickets to see Mission Paganini with Yury Revich

Following a magnificent performance of Paganini’s Violin Concerto no. 2 which enraptured Firebird’s audience in June, the internationally celebrated violinist Yury Revich returns with much anticipation.

Yury has arranged Paganini’s 24 Caprices – dazzling gemstones of the violin repertoire – for solo violin and orchestra and has offered Firebird the honour of premièring them on 22 October.

‘‘Yury Revich played with full-blooded authority, fleet-fingered dexterity, innate musicality and substantial accuracy…’
The Strad

Yury plays a 1709 Stradivarius and performs all over the world, with orchestras like the Royal Philharmonic, the Russian National Orchestra and La Verdi Milano at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie and Vienna Konzerthaus.

This tour through the Caprices promises to be a spectacular virtuosic feat. We extend the Italian theme with Donizetti’s capricious Overture to Don Pasquale.

Straight from the stages of Opera North and English Touring Opera comes Sky Ingram for two of Puccini’s most adored arias.

Mission Paganini with Yury Revich
Tuesday 22 October 2019, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Donizetti Overture to Don Pasquale
Paganini/Revich The 24 Caprices
Puccini Quando m’en vo’ (from La Boheme) & O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi)

Buy tickets to see Mission Paganini with Yury Revich

Conductor George Jackson
Violin Yury Revich
Soprano Sky Ingram

This concert has been generously sponsored by Rory Graham in memory of James B Cairns

What’s in a Key?

London Firebird Orchestra’s fantastic new season is ‘bookended’ by two concerts featuring music is specific keys. But what does this actually mean?

A Major Evening

On Thursday 26 September 2019 Firebird presents A Major Evening with music by Beethoven and Mozart – and predominantly in the key of A Major.

A Major Evening

Beethoven Coriolan Overture, Op. 72
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622
Mozart Tamino’s Aria: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön (from The Magic Flute)
Beethoven Symphony no. 7 in A, Op. 92

Conductor George Jackson
Clarinet James Meldrum
Tenor John Findon

Buy tickets for A Major Evening

B MINOR WITH LOVE

Thursday 11 June 2020 sees B Minor with Love, with music by Dvorak and Tchaikovsky – and centred around the key of B minor.

B Minor with Love

Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104
Winner of the Firebird Young Composer of the Year Competition New Work (World Première)
Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 (Pathétique)

Conductor Michael Thrift
Cello Aleksei Kiseliov

In music, the key of the piece is the group of notes or scale which form the basis of the composition. Each key has certain characteristics which differentiates it from another.

Western music is usually grouped into two types – Major and Minor – although there are many other types or ‘Modes’ used in different musical styles around the world.

Science laboratories throughout the country will probably have a periodic table on the wall. Music classrooms will have something equally daunting to the uninitiated – The Circle of Fifths.

Pythagoras

It all goes back to the Ancient Greeks and Pythagoras in 600BC. He had been experimenting with different lengths of vibrating string and had discovered the relationships between pitch frequencies.

He defined one of these relationships the octave and divided it up into twelve steps. This was what we call a scale. On a piano it is easy to see with a mixture of black and white keys:

This developed into the Pythagorean Circle and the version we have today – the Circle of Fifths – is like a map of the keys. Starting at the top in C major and moving clockwise, the adjacent keys are the most similar to each other with each one having an additional sharp (a step higher).

As you go round the circle counter-clockwise you keep adding flats (a step lower). Nestled snugly inside the major circle you find the relative minor keys which have all the same sharps of flats as their major counterparts.

Buy tickets for A Major Evening

But of course, understanding the cycle of fifths has absolutely no bearing on the enjoyment of this wonderful music – and this years season truly is a feast for the senses. We do hope you can join us for the opening concert of the season on Thursday 26 September for A Major Evening.

Explore the whole season

Conductor George Jackson

One of London Firebird’s conductors for the 2019/20 season, George Jackson, gives his overview of the first two concerts in September and October this year…

Since winning the Aspen Conducting Prize in 2015, London-born conductor George Jackson’s career has taken off around Europe with engagements ranging from the Orchestre de Paris to the London Symphony Orchestra, and from Opera North and Grange Park Opera to Kammeroper Frankfurt.

Buy tickets online for the London Firebird 2019/20 season

26 September is the date for the first concert: A Major Evening featuring music by Beethoven and Mozart.  Firstly, George tells us about two works by Beethoven in this delightful season opener:

George goes on to tell us about the and a brilliant concerto for clarinet written in 1791, played by risking star James Meldrum, and an aria from one of Mozart’s most populate operas with tenor, John Findon.

Mozart from Revolution Arts on Vimeo.

A Major Evening

Thursday 26 September 2019, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

A Major Evening

Beethoven Coriolan Overture, Op. 72
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622
Mozart Tamino’s Aria: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön (from The Magic Flute)
Beethoven Symphony no. 7 in A, Op. 92

Conductor George Jackson
Clarinet James Meldrum
Tenor John Findon

“George Jackson conducted … a magnificent account of the score,” 
The Telegraph

And on 22 October we welcome back the fantastic violinist, Yuri Revich for Mission Paganini, a in a marvellous celebration of Italian music. George tells us more about this exciting event which also stars the fabulous soprano, Sky Ingram:

Mission Paganini with Yuri Revich

Tuesday 22 October 2019, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Mission Paganini with Yury Revich

Donizetti Overture to Don Pasquale
Paganini/Revich The 24 Caprices
Puccini Quando m’en vo’ (from La Boheme) & O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi)

Conductor George Jackson
Violin Yury Revich
Soprano Sky Ingram

This concert has been generously sponsored by Rory Graham in memory of James B Cairns

“Yury Revich played with full-blooded authority, innate musicality and substantial accuracy…”
The Strad

Buy tickets online for the London Firebird 2019/20 season

Firebird’s new season revealed

London Firebird Orchestra’s new video sets the scene for a fabulous new season of concerts for 2019/20 featuring an outstanding programme of magnificent music, sensational soloists and charismatic conductors…

A Major Evening

Thursday 26 September 2019, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

A Major Evening

Beethoven Coriolan Overture, Op. 72
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622
Mozart Tamino’s Aria: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön (from The Magic Flute)
Beethoven Symphony no. 7 in A, Op. 92

Conductor George Jackson
Clarinet James Meldrum
Tenor John Findon

“George Jackson conducted … a magnificent account of the score”  The Daily Telegraph

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Mission Paganini with Yury Revich

Tuesday 22 October 2019, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Mission Paganini with Yury Revich

Donizetti Overture to Don Pasquale
Paganini/Revich The 24 Caprices
Puccini Quando m’en vo’ (from La Boheme) & O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi)

Conductor George Jackson
Violin Yury Revich
Soprano Sky Ingram

This concert has been generously sponsored by Rory Graham in memory of James B Cairns

“Yury Revich played with full-blooded authority, innate musicality and substantial accuracy…”  The Strad

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FROM THE EARTH TO THE SKIES

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

From the Earth to the Sky

Mozart Overture to Idomeneo, re di Creta, K, 366
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 2 in B flat, Op. 19
Mozart Ilia’s Arias: Quando avran fine omai & Padre, germani, addio! (from Idomeneo)
Mozart Symphony no. 41 in C, K. 551 (Jupiter)

Conductor Michael Thrift
Piano Marc Corbett-Weaver
Soprano Rosanna Harris

“Marc Corbett-Weaver… fully immersed in the subtleties and considerable technical demands of each composer’s writing,” Musical Opinion

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THE FIRST CUCKOO: NATURE UNWRAPPED

Sunday 22 March 2020, 6:30 pm
King’s Place, London, N1 9AG

The First Cuckoo

Delius On Hearing the First Cuckoo
Delius Spring Summer Night on the River
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Mozart The Queen of the Night Arias: Der Hölle Rache & O zittre nicht (from The Magic Flute)
Haydn Symphony no. 83 in G minor, Hob.I:83 (La Poule)

Conductor George Jackson
Violin Emmanuel Bach
Coloratura Samantha Hay

“…dazzling coloratura and fearless top notes drew audible gasps!”  Intermezzo.com

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FIREBIRD FOR SCHOOLS

Thursday 14 May 2020, 1:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Firebird for Schools

Programme to include:
Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf, Op.67

Conductor George Jackson

“Marvellous responses!” Emily Bohill, London Music Teacher

Find out more

B MINOR WITH LOVE

Thursday 11 June 2020, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

B Minor with Love

Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104
Winner of the Firebird Young Composer of the Year Competition New Work (World Première)
Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 (Pathétique)

Conductor Michael Thrift
Cello Aleksei Kiseliov

“Michael Thrift… deeply contemporary, with sinuous lines and sour harmonies creating a brooding, desperate mood,” Operissimo

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London Firebird Orchestra
London Firebird Orchestra

Sibelius the Symphonist

One of the main works in the Firebird concert on 11 June is Sibelius’s 5th Symphony. We find out more about the symphonies of Finland’s national hero…

Being credited with developing a country’s national identity is some accolade, but the symphonies of Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) helped define Finland’s struggle for independence.

Positioned precariously between Sweden and Russia, Finland had been part of the kingdom of Sweden since the middle ages. The 18th century ’Great Wrath’ wars twice led to the occupation of Finland by Russian forces.

Following the 1917 Russian Revolution, Finland declared itself independent but the fledgling state was divided by civil war. And during World War II, the Soviet Union sought repeatedly to occupy Finland.

But finally in 1955 Finland joined the United Nations and established an official policy of neutrality. Joining the Eurozone in 1995, Finland now ranks first on recent World Happiness Report reports.

The Sibelius Symphonies Edition

The core of Sibelius’s work as a composer are his seven symphonies. But after his Seventh Symphony in 1924 he stopped producing major works in his last thirty years of his life.

His First Symphony of 1899 was composed at a time when patriotic feelings were being enhanced by the Russian emperor Nicholas II’s attempt to restrict the powers of the Grand Duchy of Finland. It was performed in a concert with several of his blatantly patriotic songs which immediately brought him the status of a national hero.

The 1902 Second Symphony was premiered during a period of Russian oppression and was received with tremendous enthusiasm by the Finns which further consolidated his reputation.

Despite bouts of excessive wining and dining in Helsinki, spending exorbitant amounts on champagne and lobster, Sibelius finally resolved to give up drinking to concentrate on composing his Third Symphony which uses themes from Finnish folk music. A reviewer described it as ‘internally new and revolutionary’.

But by 1907 his smoking and drinking had become life-threatening and he had a tumour removed from his throat in Berlin. After the operation, he vowed to give up smoking and drinking once and for all.

The impact of this brush with death inspired his Fourth Symphony. But its introspective style was not warmly received in Helsinki and in New York members of audience left between movements with the Boston American labelling it ‘a sad failure’.

An extract from the score of Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony

While travelling back from the US, Sibelius heard about the events in Sarajevo that led to the beginning of the First World War and he began working on his Fifth Symphony.

The sight of 16 swans flying by inspired him to write the finale. ‘One of the great experiences of my life!’ he commented. Sibelius conducted the premiere of the Fifth Symphony on the eve of his 50th birthday.

After several rewrites, and a resumption of the drinking, the work was finished coinciding with the Russian Revolution which was to have a significant impact on his life and those around him.

Sibelius in 1939

Following Finland’s liberation he premiered his Sixth Symphony in 1923 and at a subsequent performance in Gothenburg he enjoyed an ecstatic reception despite arriving at the concert hall suffering from over-indulgence in food and drink. Following the premiere of his Seventh Symphony in 1924 Sibelius was honoured with the Knight Commander’s Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog.

Although Sibelius started work on an eighth symphony it was not to be. Sibelius had always been self-critical remarking ‘If I cannot write a better symphony than my Seventh, then it shall be my last.’ He consigned all his surviving manuscripts to the flames in 1945.

At the time of his death in 1957, his Fifth Symphony was being broadcast from Helsinki. At the same time, the UN was in session and a moment of silence was called with the President saying: ‘Sibelius belonged to the whole world. With his music, he enriched the life of the entire human race’.

Sibelius in Summer

Tuesday 11 June 2019 7.30pm
St George’s Hanover Square, London

Rossini Overture to Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Paganini Violin Concerto no. 2
Angela Slater Twilight Inversions (World Première – Firebird Composer of the Year Winner)
Sibelius Symphony No. 5 Op. 82

Michael Thrift conductor
Yury Revich violin

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Meet the artist: Yury Revich

We meet the dazzling young virtuoso violinist, Yury Revich, who is the soloist in an incredible display of virtuosity in the next Firebird concert on 11 June…

Born in Moscow in 1991, Yury Revich now resides in Vienna and holds Austrian citizenship. Amongst his awards are the first prize at the International Virtuosi of the 21st Century competition in Moscow and the Young Artist of the Year 2015 by the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA). 

‘Full-blooded authority, fleet-fingered dexterity, innate musicality and substantial accuracy…’  The Strad

Yury Revich performing the Russian Dance from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake live at the Montenegrin National Theatre’s New Year’s Concert.

Yury made his debut at the Carnegie Hall at the age of 18. Since then he has performed internationally at festivals in France, Germany, Italy, Georgia, Lebanon, Switzerland, Austria, Israel and in many other countries. He has also performed at major venues including the Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Musikverein, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Zurich Tonhalle and La Scala in Milan.

His recordings to date are featured on labels such as Sony Classical as well as ARS records for which he won his ECHO Klassik Award.

‘…already regarded as a young Paganini: This is the violinist Yury Revich’  Radio Uno, Italy

Yury is also a passionate advocate for many charitable and philanthropic causes. He co-organized a concert in Vienna in 2011 for the victims of the Japanese tsunami. In 2015 he organised the First Austrian Gala Charity All for Autism which has become one the biggest Autism Awareness events in Europe. An official partner of UNICEF Austria, Yury hosts an annual Dreamland Gala for UNICEF as part of his Friday Nights with Yury Revich international concert cycle in Vienna.

Yury also lives out his creativity in the film medium having also studied directing and acting. Above is an example of one of his delightful short films, entitled Confusion.

Yury Revich will perform Paganini’s wonderful Second Violin Concerto on 11 June in a fabulous evening of the very best in classical music. Under their conductor Michael Thrift, Firebird will also perform a lively overture by Rossini, an exciting premiere by the winner of the Firebird Composer of the Year Angela Slater and Sibelius’s beautiful Fifth Symphony. 

Sibelius in Summer

Tuesday 11 June 2019 7.30pm
St George’s Hanover Square, London

Rossini Overture to Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Paganini Violin Concerto no. 2
Angela Slater Twilight Inversions (World Première – Firebird Composer of the Year Winner)
Sibelius Symphony No. 5 Op. 82

Michael Thrift conductor
Yury Revich violin

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Sibelius in the Summer

In June we look forward to a fabulous Firebird concert featuring a dazzling young Russian Virtuoso Violinist, an exciting World Premiere, a brilliant Operatic Overture and one of the most wonderful Symphonies in the repertoire…

Sibelius in Summer on 11 June at St George’s Hanover Square opens one of the most exciting musical masterpieces in the world of music with the Overture to Rossini’s Opera Il Barbiere di Siviglia, or The Barber of Seville.

Michael Thrift, conductor
Michael Thrift, conductor

Conducted by our very own Michael Thrift, this promises to be a top quality evening full of fantastic music and introducing some fresh new stars to share Firebird’s concert platform.

Russian violinist Yury Revich is the soloist for an incredible display of virtuosity in Paganini’s Violin Concerto No 2.

Yury Revich
Yury Revich

Composed in Italy in 1826, this is far more than a display of musical fireworks as it also displays great richness and melodic style.

It is always exciting to stage a World Premiere and this year we are delighted to present the first ever performance of Angela Slater’s Twilight Inversions – the winning entry in the Firebird Composer of the Year competition.

Angela Slater
Angela Slater

A rising star as a composer, Angela Slater has recently participated in the St Magnus Composition Course 2017, working with Alasdair Nicholson and Sally Beamish and the Britten-Pears Young Artists Composers’ Course 2017, where she has worked with Olivier Knussen and Colin Matthews.

And the major work in the second half is the Symphony No. 5 Op. 82 by Jean Sibelius. Composed in 1915 it was composed to celebrate the composer’s 50th birthday as a commission from the Finnish Government. This monumental work helped earn Sibelius the accolade of a National Hero.

Sibelius monument
Sibelius monument, Helsinki

Sibelius in Summer

Tuesday 11 June 2019 7.30pm
St George’s Hanover Square, London

Rossini / Paganini / Slater / Sibelius

Michael Thrift conductor
Yury Revich violin

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Introducing Firebird for Schools

A new tailor-made concert specifically for schoolchildren is being staged by London Firebird Orchestra to introduce young people to the magical world of the orchestra.

As part of the charity’s outreach work this event is a partnership between the Orchestra, London Music Masters and state schools from a range of London boroughs.

350 school children and their teachers will attend the event which will be conducted by Firebird’s Michael Thrift. The programme will feature Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf with narrator Nickolas Grace (pictured), along with a selection of other well-known classical works.

Nicholas Grace

Nickolas Grace is an English actor known for his roles on television, including Anthony Blanche in the acclaimed ITV adaptation of Brideshead Revisited, and the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1980s series Robin of Sherwood. Grace also played Dorien Green’s husband Marcus Green in the 1990s British comedy series Birds of a Feather.

St George's Hanover Square
St George’s Hanover Square

Taking place in the intimate but spacious surroundings of St George’s Hanover Square – also known as ‘Handel’s Church’ – the children will be able to sit up close to the orchestra to engage with the performance.

Firebird believes this is a particularly important enterprise which it hopes will become an annual event. With provision for music in certain parts of London currently restricted, this exciting concert will inspire the next generation of music-makers and music-lovers.

Peter and the Wolf
Peter and the Wolf

The main work in the programme, Peter and the Wolf was composed by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936. The narrator tells the story with each character represented by an orchestral instrument:

  • Bird – flute
  • Duck – oboe
  • Cat – clarinet
  • Grandfather – bassoon
  • Wolf – three horns
  • Peter – string quartet
  • Hunters – drums

Peter and the Wolf is Prokofiev’s most frequently performed work, and one of the most frequently performed works in the entire classical repertoire.

Please help to support Firebird’s valuable education and outreach work by joining our Firebird Friends & Benefactors Society.

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Titania and Bottom

Mendelssohn’s Dream

‘The greatest child prodigy since Mozart’ they said. Mendelssohn had made his first public concert appearance at the age of 9 and by his teens had five operas and 11 symphonies to his credit. He had also composed the Overture to one of Shakespeare’s iconic plays – but why did it take him 16 years to complete the project?

Felix Mendelssohn’s music for William Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream spans both ends of his compositional career. He wrote the Overture in 1826 when he was just 17 years old. Music scholar George Grove called it ‘the greatest marvel of early maturity that the world has ever seen in music’. However, he was not to write the incidental music for the rest of the play until 1842, only a few years before his death.

Mendelssohn

The young Mendelssohn had just read a German translation of the play and it was said, by the composer’s biographer, Heinrich Eduard Jacob, that he had just scribbled down some of the musical ideas after hearing an evening breeze rustle the leaves in the garden of the family’s home.

First edition of Shakespeare's play
First edition of Shakespeare’s play

Mendelssohn first played his overture in a version for two pianos with his sister Fanny. He then orchestrated it for a public performance the following year in Stettin in what is now Poland. Mendelssohn travelled 80 miles through a raging snowstorm to get to the concert in which he was also one of the piano soloists in his Concerto in A-flat major for two pianos and orchestra, and the soloist in Weber’s Konzertstück in F minor. And as if that was not enough, after the interval he joined the first violins for a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. In 1829 he conducted the first British performance of the Overture himself in London at a benefit concert for Silesian flood victims.

Bottom

Although essentially a piece in the classical idiom, Mendelssohn also creates a uniquely Romantic atmosphere throughout the Overture. Moreover, it brilliantly sets the scene of Shakespeare’s play with the scampering of ‘fairy feet’, the royal music of the court of Athens, the ‘lover’s theme’ and the ‘hee-haw’ braying of Bottom as an ass.

16 years later in 1842 Mendelssohn was music director of the King’s Academy of the Arts and of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. It took a commission from King Frederick William IV of Prussia to encourage Mendelssohn to complete the work as a 14-movement suite of incidental music for performance alongside the play. The earlier Overture was incorporated into the score which also includes the world-famous Wedding March.

Mendelssohn was not the first to be inspired by the play. Purcell’s 1692 restoration spectacular The Fairy-Queen for example, consists of a set of masques designed to be performed between acts of the play. And after Mendelssohn’s day his own score was recycled in various forms for film adaptations of Shakespeare’s comedy including Korngolds score for Max Reinhardt’s 1935 movie and Woody Allen‘s 1982 film A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy. Parts were even used in Gil Gates Jr’s 2002 A Midsummer Night’s Rave!

Mendelssohn’s magnificent Overture opens the next Firebird concert. Join us for a wonderful evening of three great works from the very heart of 19th century European classical music.

Mendelssohn in March