Relayed from the National Museum of Wales

National Orchestra of Wales

(to 12.45)

Relayed from The Western Mail Brighter Homes Exhibition, the Drill Hall

Relayed from the Assembly Room, the City Hall

National Orchestra of Wales
Conducted by Warwick Braithwaite

The well-known air from Puccini's Japanese Opera is the pathetic song of the deserted Butterfly, who believes her husband is still true to her. She declares that 'One fine day he will return'.

Mendelssohn's Italian and Swiss tour in 1831, when he was twenty-two, delighted him, and this work, which he wrote soon after his return, seems to be an expression of his high spirits, his gusts in enjoying the pleasures that life was bringing him.
There are three Movements.
First Movement (Very quick, fiery). Mendelssohn plunges almost at once into his first main tune, which the Piano has by itself.
The soloist and Orchestra for a while toss a conversational ball to and fro, and then the quiet second main tune creeps in. These tunes are developed in vigorous fashion, and after their recapitulation, a Trumpet and Horn passage leads us to a new key for the next Movement which follows without a break.
Second Movement (Rather slow). One main tune, expressive and restful, suffices here. It is given out by the- 'Cello, to which Mendelssohn was fond of giving themes. The Movement consists of delicate, varied repetitions of this, by either the soloist or the Orchestra.
Third Movement. A 'short' introductory section (Very quick) leads to the brilliant first main tune, a galop for the Piano. Here is the essence of youthful vivacity, that in Mendelssohn was never tinged with vulgarity, but always had in it something high-toned and urbane.
After the opening tune comes a second idea, a coruscation of arpeggios, much used throughout the Movement.
A third motive is a phrase for Flutes, consisting of a repeated four-note figure, the second note trilled.
Using these materials with a brilliant spontaneity and handling his Orchestra (especially the Woodwind) with delightful ease and certainty, Mendelssohn works up the Movement, rounding it off with a final irresistible outburst.

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