Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Complete Recording)

On this CD:

1. A Midsummer Night's Dream, incidental music, Op. 61
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra with Edith Wiens, Christiane Oertel
Conducted by Kurt Masur

Tracks:

Merce, Diletti Amici - O Tu, Che L'alma
Scena, Coro E Brindisi
Mamma...Quel Vino E Generoso
Lamento Di Federico
Improvviso
Come Un Bel Di Dimaggio
Oh! Fede Negar Potessi
Fontainebleau, Foresta Immense
Amor Ti Vieta
Cielo E Mar
Epilogo
Vesti La Giubba
Dio, Mi Potevi Scagliar
La Danza

Customer Reviews:

Triumphant return of Flor's Mendelssohn.......2005-06-01

At last Claus Peter Flor's Mendelssohn symphonies, overtures and piano concertos (with Edelmann) have returned. On the basis of these recordings (all previously issued) Flor, who is probably in his early 50s now, is still one of the better Mendelssohn conductors out there.

In particular, his Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5 have been hailed by critics on this side of the Atlantic for their beauty, proportion and Mendelssohnian sensibility. His other symphonies are also good and his collected overtures have been revered on both sides of the Atlantic by critics from Gramophone (which gave the overtures a rosette) to American Record Guide (which continued to promote his works even after they were out of print).

Flor's regualr partner in these performances, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, is a European band of the second rank. While not being confused with the more well-known orchestras in Vienna, Berlin or London, they perform universally well in these CDs in recordings that sound better than ever.

This is a very good collection of Mendelssohn's symphonic music and piano concertos that will rank with the best recorded boxes including Abbado and Karajn. In musical terms is far exceeds the collections led by Masur, Ashkenazy and the newer Naxos cycle of mixed quality.

Collectors that have never heard Flor conduct (or have never heard of him) can rest assured that this is a worthy alternative collection in this music. If this grouping and this price are attractive, go for it.

Average customer rating:

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy , Jeffrey Tate , Rotterdam Philharmonic , Lynne Dawson , and Susanne Mentzer
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DNQ2
Release Date: 1992-07-07

Mendelssohn ¿ A Midsummer Night's Dream ¿ Marriner

Average customer rating:

All the subtlety and elegance of the Mendelssohn/Shakespeare experience
A nice reminder of Marriner's heyday
A True Gem

Mendelssohn ¿ A Midsummer Night's Dream ¿ Marriner
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy , Neville Marriner , Ambrosian Singers , Ann Murray , Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus , and Arleen Augér
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Customer Reviews:

All the subtlety and elegance of the Mendelssohn/Shakespeare experience.......2007-02-06

Though recorded in 1990 this sonically very superb recording of Mendelssohn' s complete incidental music to Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Ein Sommernachtstraum) remains the gold standard. Sir Neville Marriner (now 82 years young and still conducting with the suave facility that has marked his career as evidenced by a recent appearance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducting Rossini, Chopin, and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3) has just the right take on this eloquent score, underling the elegance and respecting the long melodic lines.

Marriner is at the helm of the Philharmonia Orchestra and Ambrosian Singers here and elects to record the entire score Mendelssohn wrote for performances of the play. He draws well sculpted lines, shimmering atmosphere, fine first desk playing and has chosen two superb singers for the solo portions - Ann Murray and the much missed Arleen Auger. It is an album to cherish on every level. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 07

A nice reminder of Marriner's heyday.......2007-01-13

For a conductor not classified among the greats, Neville Marrienr has an astonishing discography runningo to nearly 400 recordings (crotchet.co.uk currently lists 292 still in print). The secret was timing: Marriner pioneered the concept of reduced forces playing the classics in a style close to period practice but not so antiquated that regular audiences were alienated. He had a light touch and excellent musicians in his Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. So how well has this outpouring held up?

The original virtues are still in evidence. This reading of the familiar music from Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream is light in texture and warmly conceived. Inner detail is especially engaging. The smaller forces make a refreshing change from big-band Mendelssohn. Arleen Auger and the young Ann Murray sing very well, but if you compare this CD to Previn's famous account on EMI, Marriner sounds a bit flat-footed. Having said that, his version belongs among the most enjoyable, aided by excellent, clear, close-up recorded sound from Philips. It would be nice to hear an extra spark of inspiration, but at a bargain price from Amazon Marketplace, one cana't remotely complain.

A True Gem.......2003-02-19

This music is sheer beauty. Very tuneful with many intricate embelleshments between the strings and brass. Tones both loud and soft are so pleasing to the ear. And the role of the singers fits the scene perfectly. In other words plenty of balance.

I am a little biased but I always loved the Wedding March. And the Philharmonia Orchestra certainly performs it so well. The Nocturne that precedes it also holds a tender moment in my heart and soul. There is so much to digest of this fine Mendelssohn work that I am sure that it will be a treasure for my ears for many years to come. You will not go wrong.

Mendelssohn: Sym 4 in A major Op. 90/Sym 5 in D minor Op107/Midsummer Night's Dream Op. 61
Average customer rating:
Mendelssohn: Sym 4 in A major Op. 90/Sym 5 in D minor Op107/Midsummer Night's Dream Op. 61
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy , London Philharmonic Orchestra , and Raymond Leppard
Manufacturer: Bmg Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000E6J0
Release Date: 1989-05-11

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Complete Recording)
Average customer rating:
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Complete Recording)

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000SD2
Release Date: 1992-04-07

Tracks:

Ov, Op.21 - Leipzig Opr House Orch/Kurt Masur
Text: Hier ist das Blatt
No.1 Scherzo
No.2 Melodram: Uber Taler und Hoh'n
Elfenmarsch
No.3 Lied mit Chor - Edith Wiens/Christiane Oertel/Friedhelm Eberle/Leipzig Radio Chor/Gerard Frischmuth
No.4 Melodram: Was du wirst erwachend sehn
No.5 Intermezzo - Leipzig Opr House Orch/Kurt Masur
No.6 Melodram: Welch hausgebachenses Volk
No.7 Notturno - Leipzig Opr House Orch/Kurt Masur
Text: Nun toller Geist/No.8 Melodram: Sei, ais ware nichts geschehn!
No.9 Hochzeitsmarsch - Leipzig Opr House Orch/Kurt Masur
Text: Nin kommt!/No.10 Melodram: Was dies bedeuten soll
Text: Beliebt es Euer Hoheit
No.11 Ein Tanz von Rupeln - Leipzig Opr House Orch/Kurt Masur
Text: Zu Bett, Geliebte Freunde!
No.12 Melodram: Jetzt beheult der Wolf den Mond
No.13 Finale: Bei des Feuers mattern Flimmern

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy "A Midsummer Night's Dream

Average customer rating:

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy "A Midsummer Night's Dream

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Product Description

Music of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy including "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage", "The Hebrides" and "The Tale of the Beautiful Melusine.

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream; The Hebrides Overture; Ruy Blas Overture [Australia]

Average customer rating:

More From Australia With Love

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream; The Hebrides Overture; Ruy Blas Overture [Australia]
Van Bork , Burgos , Ansermet , and New Philharmonia Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000265ZX
Release Date: 2002-01-28

Tracks:

Overture
Scherzo
Melodram And Fairy March
'ye Spotted Snakes'
Melodram
Intermezzo
Melodram- What Hempen Homespuns'
Nocturne
Melodram- Removal Of The Spells'
Wedding March
Fanfare And Funeral March
Dance Of The Rustics
Meldram
Finale- Through The House
Overture The Hebride' Op. 26
Overture Ruy Blas' Op. 95

Customer Reviews:

More From Australia With Love.......2003-11-09

Thank you Amazon for carrying such a large selection of titles from the Australian "Eloquence" series! While the majority of the performances in this mid-price import line are available stateside (but as different titles or with different packaging), some are not and needless to say I am snapping many of those CDs up quickly. This delightful disc features the complete Incidental Music from Mendelssohn's "A Midsuumer Night's Dream" and two Overtures, "The Hebrides" and "Ruy Blas." The Incidental Music was first released in 1969 and features soloists Hanneke van Bork and Alfreda Hodgson with the Amborsian Singers (Chorus Master John McCarthy) with Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos leading the New Philharmonia Orchestra. Though the highlights of this set for me personally are the Overtures, performed by Ernest Ansermet and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande from 1965. These are all first-rate recordings, yet my reason for withholding a fifth star is cost. You see, I don't actually own this CD, but instead its predecessor, released under license by the Canadian company Belart, which I purchased at a fraction of what this title is currently selling for. But regardless of price, you certainly won't be disappointed with this Amazon delivery from Australia with love.

Average customer rating:

Symphony 3 4 9/Midsummer Night's Dream
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy , Hager , and Engl Chamber Orch
Manufacturer: Novalis Diamond
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00066VUK2
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Mendelssohn in Berlin: A Midsummer Night's Dream (excerpts); Violin Concerto Op. 64

Average customer rating:

Mendelssohn in Berlin: A Midsummer Night's Dream (excerpts); Violin Concerto Op. 64
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy , Pierre Amoyal (violin) , London Philharmonic Orchestra , Raymond Leppard (conductor) , and Ann Murray Elizabeth Gale
Manufacturer: Erato 4509-94578
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000E8UR
Release Date: 1992-10-06