The sound of Italy.

Felix Mendelssohn was an avid traveller. He spent nine months or so in Italy in 1830-31 where he jotted down ideas that would make their way into his Symphony No. 4, ‘Italian’. Writing to his sister, Fanny, from Rome in February 1831, he commented, ‘I have once more begun to compose with great vigour. The Italian Symphony makes rapid progress…’ The symphony commences with a joyous first movement in 6/8 (an unusual time signature for the opening movement of a symphony). The second movement is a solemn march, possibly inspired by the many religious processions that Mendelssohn witnessed in Italy. The third movement is a minuet and trio while the fourth is a far more uninhibited dance, a saltarello. Unusually, Mendelssohn has chosen the key of A minor for the finale (the symphony is otherwise in A major) but it fits perfectly with the wild abandon of the saltarello, a dance that involves rapid hopping steps and vigorous arm movements.

Performed live as part of Chopin Piano Concerto on 16 September 2022 at Federation Concert Hall, nipaluna / Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

PROGRAM
Fexlix Mendelssohn, Symphony No 4 in A, Op 90, ‘Italian’

Conductor: Eivind Aadland
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra