Mendelssohn: The Complete Symphonies Nos.1 & 4
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Sir András Schiff reunite for a three-concert series of Mendelssohn’s symphonies and piano concertos.
Their immersive journey begins with three pieces which exhibit the scintillating promise of his early career, starting with Symphony No.1, which Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847) composed when he was just 15.
At its London premiere in 1829, one critic wrote that ‘fertility of invention and novelty of effect, are what first strike the hearers’.
It is followed by the rambunctious Piano Concerto No.1, premiered by Mendelssohn himself in 1831 and demonstrating his natural affinity for crafting piano technique into a thrilling musical story and a willingness to experiment.
At tonight’s concert it is performed by Sir András, who also directs.
The programme concludes with Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony, with the country’s colour flying out of the orchestra right from the first sun-drenched bars.
Performers
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Sir András Schiff director, fortepiano
Repertoire
Mendelssohn: Symphony No.1 in C minor
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op.25
Mendelssohn: Symphony No.4 in A (Italian)
Need to know
Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer at 6pm: pre-concert talk. Admission free.
The second and third concerts in Mendelssohn: The Complete Symphonies take place on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 April.
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.