2: The Young Romantic
The young Mendelssohn was the quintessential romantic: passionate about literature and painting as well as music. He was a master of classical form during a period when antiquity was revered above everything-the early 19th century saw the beginnings of archaeology and a fascination with the literature of Greece.
He was equally at home with the intimate medium of the piano miniature, designed for the pianist to commune directly with the composer at the keyboard, and his tone painting in the concert overtures is strikingly original.
String Quartet in A minor, Op 13 Ysaye Quartet
Songs without Words, Book 1 (excerpts) Daniel Barenboim (piano)
Overture: The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) London Philharmonic, conductor Bernard Haitink