8. Cello Series (3)

Fanny Mendelssohn was Felix Mendelssohn’s older sister. Like Clara Schumann she too was both composer and pianist and had to face social conventions that placed women’s artistic endeavours firmly below their domestic and social obligations. During her brother’s prodigy years, she acted as his guide and mentor. Disappointingly Felix took the conventional view that women should not be permitted to publish their compositions and a number of his sister’s works were published under his name giving future scholars much detective work. Fortunately her husband took a more progressive view and she managed to publish many of her works. Many contemporaries thought she could have also had a performance career like Clara Schumann, but although she clearly had the skill she may not have had the temperament. She and Felix remained close throughout their lives, they both died before their time within six months of each other. Felix composed his devastating F minor Quartet in her memory (see Event 28). Her Capriccio is just under seven minutes of pure bliss. Zemlinsky and Brahms are not bad either.

8. Cello Series (3)_Programme Notes

Visit the OCL event page for more booking details

European Broadcast 8pm Irish Standard Time
North American Broadcast 8pm ET (1am Irish Standard Time)

On Demand will become available after the conclusion of the North American broadcast for 48 hours (13 June 2am – 15 June 2am IST)

All works performed by Johannes Moser