Songs from op. 1, 8 and 9 (ca. 1822–1830) arranged for chamber orchestra by Tal-Haim Samnon Hero and Leander – Dramatic Scene (1832)
FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 3 (1822) The Hebrides – Concert Overture op. 26 (1832, Rome version) Infelice op. 94 – Concert Aria (1843/51)
Chen Reiss, soprano
Tassilo Probst, violin Daniel Grossmann, conductor
The congenial siblings Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn took very different paths, in keeping with their times. While for Fanny, musical talent could be "only an ornament, never the foundation of your being and doing," according to her father, her father, himself the son of the famous Jewish enlightenment philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, paved the way for Felix to pursue a career as a musician. Although Fanny's work was highly valued, her father and brother prevented her from publishing her works - she was supposed to conform to the ideal image of a housewife of her time, which in the intellectual environment in which the family moved meant that women were to be highly educated but only pursue their interests in private. Although her husband, the painter Wilhelm Hensel, supported his wife's artistic activities, Fanny was never able to match her brother's success.
In recent years, many of Fanny Hensel's works have been rediscovered, edited and published (often for the first time). Together with the Israeli soprano Chen Reiss, the JCOM presents examples of her vocal music, combined with works by Felix Mendelssohn, on CD and in concert.
