Mendelssohn: The Complete Symphonies Nos.3 & 5
Sir András Schiff and the OAE continue their Mendelssohn series with a profound statement of devotion and the composer’s last completed symphony.
Mendelssohn first performed Bach’s St Matthew Passion in 1829, so it is perhaps no surprise that the symphony he began shortly after, and which opens this event, is steeped in the atmosphere of the Reformation.
Director Sir András adds the role of soloist to his duties for the evening’s second work – Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No.2. Composed for the Birmingham Music Festival of 1837, its quality lies in the role of the pianist as the central protagonist in a rhapsodic ensemble drama.
The programme concludes with the Scottish Symphony, which is published as his third but was in fact the last which Mendelssohn would complete.
Its origins lie in the same 1829 grand tour that inspired The Hebrides Overture and Italian Symphony, and while its ‘Scottishness’ is much debated, the work reveals an artist whose enduring appeal lies in his carefully wrought balance of the old and novel.
Performers
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Sir András Schiff director, fortepiano
Repertoire
Mendelssohn: Symphony No.5 in D (Reformation)
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No.2 in D minor, Op.40
Mendelssohn: Symphony No.3 in A minor (Scottish)
Need to know
Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer at 9.15pm: post-concert talk. Admission free.
The first part of Mendelssohn: The Complete Symphonies is on Wednesday 24 April and the series concludes on 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.