Discovering Mendelssohn: CD

Australian-Chinese violinist Christian Li, having topped the UK Classical Charts with his debut album in 2021 (with which he became the youngest artist ever to record Vivaldi’s Four Seasons,) presents his second album, ‘Discovering Mendelssohn’. 

Here, Christian Li follows the journeys of Felix Mendelssohn – whose music was influenced by travel throughout his life – by recording pieces the composer wrote in Leipzig, Düsseldorf, Munich, London and Venice, including some brand new arrangements written especially for the violinist.

At the heart of the album is Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, recorded with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) under Sir Andrew Davis, to stunning effect. Talking about the unique cadenza in the first movement Li explains, “I wanted to try and follow what is in the score … I also tried to create mysterious atmospheres, experimenting with dynamic and contour and pacing, to make it sound interesting and more like an improvisation.” Whether it is the intense drama heard in the racing close of the first movement or thoughtfulness in the final Allegretto, there is sensitivity between soloist and ensemble.

Tracklist:
FELIX MENDELSSOHN 1809–1847
1. On Wings of Song from 6 Songs Op.34 3.13
with Yinuo Mu harp
*arr. violin & chamber ensemble, Simon Parkin
2. Rondo capriccioso Op.14 7.24
with Laurence Matheson piano
*arr. violin & piano, Abram Yampolsky
FRANZ SCHUBERT 1797–1828
3. Serenade from Schwanengesang D.957 4.40
with Laurence Matheson piano
arr. violin & piano, Mischa Elman
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
4. Spring Song from Songs Without Words Op.62 2.29
with James Baillieu piano
arr. violin & piano, Emil Kross
Violin Concerto in E minor Op.64
5. I. Allegro molto appassionato 13.05
6. II. Andante 7.47
7. III. Allegretto non troppo – Allegro molto vivace 6.37
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH 1685–1750
8. Erbarme dich, mein Gott from St Matthew Passion BWV 244 6.42
with David Berlin solo cello
*arr
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART 1756–1791
Violin Sonata No.21 in E minor K.304
9. I. Allegro 9.28
10. II. Tempo di Menuetto 6.15
with James Baillieu piano
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
11. Venetian Gondola Song from Songs Without Words Op.62 2.59
with Xuefei Yang guitar
*arr. violin & guitar, Simon Parkin
CHRISTIAN LI violin
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1, 5–8)
Sir Andrew Davis