Ravinia 2025 Issue 4

FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847) Symphony No. 4 in A major, op. 90 (“Italian”) Scored for pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, and trumpets, timpani, and strings As with Mozart and Schubert, Mendelssohn lived a prolific, but tragically short life. Unlike the others, he enjoyed the benefits of a wealthy upbringing and never depended on income from composition to survive. His comfort- able financial situation also allowed frequent travels. At 12, the prodigious Felix was taken to meet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who immediately recognized his talent. Goethe and Mendelssohn fashioned a friendship that tran- scended the 60-year difference in their ages. They corresponded frequently, and Felix made several trips to see the elderly poet during the next 11 years, until Goethe’s death in 1832. Mendelssohn visited his mentor one last time in 1830, the year Goethe censured Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Weimar was only an intermediate stop on his first trip to Italy—Venice, Florence, and finally Rome. Mendelssohn experienced an eventful stay in Rome. Pope Pius VIII died, and Pope Gregory XVI was elected his successor. The coronation festivities fell on Felix’s 22nd birth- day. During this momentous time, Mendelssohn began the “Italian” Symphony, a title of his own devising. “I am now trying to reflect whether I have made the best use of my time, and on every side I perceive a deficiency. If I could only com- pass one of my two symphonies! I will reserve the Italian one till I have seen Naples, which must play a part in it,” he wrote home onMarch 1, 1831. Manuscript evidence indicates that some symphonic sketches were made in Naples. Work was not concluded in Italy, but after Mendelssohn’s return to Berlin. He complet- ed the symphony on March 13, 1833, as part of a commission from the London Philharmonic Society, which gave its premiere on May 13. The composer personally delivered the final manu- script of the “Italian” Symphony. Mendelssohn remained highly critical of the work throughout Felix Mendelssohn PAVILION 5:00 PM SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2025 CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MARIN ALSOP, conductor STEPHEN WILLIAMSON, clarinet MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4 in A major, op. 90 (“Italian”) Allegro vivace Andante con moto Con moto moderato Saltarello: Presto COPLAND Clarinet Concerto Slowly and expressively—Cadenza (freely)— Rather fast Stephen Williamson ELGAR Variations on an Original Theme, op. 36 (“Enigma”) Theme I. (C.A.E.) II. (H.D.S-P.) III. (R.B.T.) IV. (W.M.B.) V. (R.P.A.) VI. (Ysobel) VII. (Troyte) VIII. (W.N.) IX. (Nimrod) X. (Dorabella) Intermezzo XI. (G.R.S.) XII. (B.G.N.) XIII. (* * *) Romanza XIV. (E.D.U.) Finale There is no intermission in this program. RAVINIAMAGAZINE • JULY 21 – AUG. 3, 2025 64