Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night's Dream. Erste Walpurgisnacht.
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Felix Mendelssohn
Label: Teldec (Warner Classics)
Magazine Review Date: 2/1994
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 78
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 9031-74882-2
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Overture, Op. 21 |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Scherzo (Entr'acte to Act 2) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Song with chorus: 'You spotted snakes' (Act 2) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Entr'acte/Intermezzo (Hermia seeks Lysander; Entrystics: Act 3) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Nocturne (Act 3) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Wedding March (Entr'acte to Act 5) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Fanfare and Funeral March (Act 5) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Bergomask (Dance of the Rustics: Act 5) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Wedding March reprise (Act 5) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Movement: Finale: 'Through the house' (Act 5) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Christoph Bantzer, Wheel of Fortune Woman Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo soprano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Pamela Coburn, Soprano |
| (Die) erste Walpurgisnacht |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(Arnold) Schoenberg Choir Birgit Remmert, Contralto (Female alto) Chamber Orchestra of Europe Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor René Pape, Bass Thomas Hampson, Baritone Uwe Heilmann, Tenor |
Author:
Harnoncourt's performance of the Midsummer Night's Dream music is not quite complete, since the ''Fairies' March'' and the ''Funeral March'' are both omitted. On the other hand, he has a complete cantata as a coupling, which gives his disc a strong competitive edge against several issues which only contain the one work. His performance contains two unusual features in that both the ''Nocturne'' and the ''Wedding March'' are taken more quickly than usual, to good effect, it seems to me, since both items can seem a bit ponderous in the wrong hands. Harnoncourt's conducting is generally lively and clear-cut, but a little lacking in affection and humour. The singing and playing are all first-rate, however. Masur's Leipzig disc does contain just the one work, but it is quite well-filled, since a fair amount of dialogue is included, albeit in German translation. Mendelssohn's music undoubtedly gains through being set in its original dramatic context (the English text is printed in the insert) and since Masur's performance is also first-rate his version is the one to have.
Die erste Walpurgisnacht is a setting of a Goethe ballad which depicts a symbolic struggle between pagan (or innovative) forces and Christians (hemmed in by tradition and bigotry), with the latter losing both the physical and moral battle. Mendelssohn's music consists of an overture plus ten vocal numbers. The tenor soloist makes a rather strained, reedy contribution to Harnon-court's performances, but the other two soloists show plenty of dramatic flair and the choral singing is superlative. Harnoncourt conducts watchfully and efficiently, but once more it is possible to imagine a more imaginative, characterful interpretation. Dohnanyi's alternative version, enthusiastically welcomed by EG, offers the Third Symphony as a coupling. The engineering throughout Harnoncourt's disc is excellent.'
Die erste Walpurgisnacht is a setting of a Goethe ballad which depicts a symbolic struggle between pagan (or innovative) forces and Christians (hemmed in by tradition and bigotry), with the latter losing both the physical and moral battle. Mendelssohn's music consists of an overture plus ten vocal numbers. The tenor soloist makes a rather strained, reedy contribution to Harnon-court's performances, but the other two soloists show plenty of dramatic flair and the choral singing is superlative. Harnoncourt conducts watchfully and efficiently, but once more it is possible to imagine a more imaginative, characterful interpretation. Dohnanyi's alternative version, enthusiastically welcomed by EG, offers the Third Symphony as a coupling. The engineering throughout Harnoncourt's disc is excellent.'
Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night's Dream. Erste Walpurgisnacht.
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