Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy : Symfonie č. 3 a moll op. 56 "Skotská" & č. 4 A dur op. 90 "Italská"

Jiří Bělohlávek, longtime principal conductor of the Prague Philharmonia and also principal conductor of the BBC London Symphony Orchestra, has produced a new recording of Mendelssohn's famous "Scottish" and "Italian" symphonies. Both symphonies are from Mendelssohn's peak creative years, the "Italian" dating from 1833 and the "Scottish" from 1842. Both were also inspired by the lands and landmarks of their respective titles, and by Mendelssohn's travel experiences there. The Scottish Symphony reflects the unique melancholy of the Scottish highlands, and the Italian, on the other hand, is one of Mendelssohn's merriest, as he himself wrote. This recording is marked by Bělohlávek's long years of detailed work with this versatile ensemble of energetic musicians. Mendelssohn's symphonies are part of the philharmonic's core repertoire, and Bělohlávek's artistic experience has transformed them into extraordinary musical treats.