Repertoire: The IDEAL Mendelssohn Symphony Cycle

I don't think there's another great composer whose symphonic output is so routinely disparaged as are Mendelssohn's five numbered works in the genre. This is terribly unfair, and it encourages us to miss out on some really magnificent music. So here is my ideal list of great performances of all five--versions to be savored and enjoyed to the hilt.

[@estel5335]

You are so right about Mendelssohn! He's is in my view the most underrated composer to have blessed this earth. His music pierces my heart like a Elbish sword does an Ork's skin.. Love his 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th - his 2nd is on my mind. Will listen to it soon!

[@jesustovar2549]

That's in your view, he's not underrated, he's an standard composer, his Violin Concerto (if not the most popular) is one of the most played, in my opinion, the most famous next to Beethoven, his Reformation, Scottish and Italian symphonies, The Hebrides, and his pieces from A Midsummer Night's Dream (especially the wedding march) and many pianist had recorded or praticed his Songs without Words, these are the works by which we know him. But i think his symphonies #1 and #2 deserves more attention, as well as his other overtures (for example, Ruy Blas and "Calm sea and Prosperous Voyage", Beethoven had a work with the same title, I liked it as much as the Hebrides, and Die Schönne Meluschine) , his camera works (like his octet or his string symphonies), his 2 piano concertos, his songs like "Auf Flügeln des Gesanges" and i think his oratiro "Elijah" is so good, as any Bach mass. Haydn said that after Mozart, there wouldn't be any talent like him over 100 years, ironically he died in 1809, the Mendelssohn's birth year.

[@donmigueldecuenca]

Kudos for this excellent apologia for Mendelssohn! You put your finger on the "problem," that he was a gentleman. Not the Romantic rebel and cad. But what a genius.

[@AlbertMena]

I love it when David has this stern gaze as it means dues will get paid and his truth will be shared with extra spice

[@MisterPathetique]

00:00 Introduction 03:18 Symphony No.1: Introduction 05:36 Symphony No.1: Choice 06:28 Symphony No.2: Introduction 10:39 Symphony No.2: Choice 16:04 Symphony No.3: Introduction 17:59 Symphony No.3: Choice 20:04 Symphony No.4: Introduction 20:47 Symphony No.4: Choice 21:59 Symphony No.5: Introduction 24:09 Symphony No.5: Choice 25:30 Conclusion Please consider adding chapters/timestamps to your videos, they would add so much value to your (already amazing) work! Cheers

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I will look into it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@detectivehome3318]

Thank you!

[@teeker2012]

Yes yes yes!!!! Great suggestion for timestamps!!!

[@phamthanh4785]

I prefer Abbado's slower approach for the slow movements of the 2nd's Sinfonia part. It feels like wandering in Tolkien's Middle Earth listening to that. Every time I hear those movements I just wish Mendelssohn had written 9 symphonies. To me, Karajan really nails the 3rd and the 5th with the weight he put in them. I love the way he made the 1st and the 3rd movements of the Scottish sound bitterly tragic. And K's 4th movement of the Reformation is hyper-triumphant and glorious. It sounds exactly like someone celebrating his having survived the Thirty Years War :)

[@harinagarajan2296]

Mr. Hurwitz. What a fantastic post Sir. The second symphony! Ooh what melodies. Many many thanks for this. I would never have listened to it but for this post. I am going to try and order this through Amazon and see what happens!. On the fifth Symphony: my favorite interpretation is the one by Toscanini. There is so much melody that he creates and in the final pages the chrale is almost sung with such long lines (others must listen to it too!). Hari

[@kimjy7118]

Mendelssohn is my favorite composer. I never thought you would do Mendelssohn Ideal cycle video because there're only 5 of them, but I was wrong! I really enjoyed this video and thank you for sharing your love for Mendelssohn. I generally agree with your picks (especially 4th with Abbado/BPO) but I haven't heard Bernius's version of Lobgesang. I like No.2 by Sawallisch/BPO, who was a Mendelssohnian when nobody seems to care about Mendelssohn. But the sample you played sounds really terrific, I definitely should give it a try! I also hope that you do the repertoire video on Mendelssohn's Elijah someday. Anyway, always watching your videos with full of pleasure! Greetings from South Korea!

[@sejoonpark1968]

I was waiting for this 👍👍👍

[@sjambler]

Thank you. Great post. Certainly underrated as a symphonist, including by me. I have at least one version of each of the five: some are freebies from BBC Music Magazine (Hickox in 2, Vänskä in 3). I do have Munch (who's great) in 4 and 5, plus a couple of others. Will order the Dohnányi to help right the injustice.

[@cayrephilippe2416]

Thank you for the review. I'd like to add Muti's recording of the third symphony, with the New Philharmonia Orchestra. He manages to express a true romantic feeling. His Schumann symphonies were great too.

[@stevenmsinger]

I agree that Mendelssohn is underrated. I heard the Dohnanyi before but forgot how good his version of Symphony No. 1 is. The Second has always been the most difficult for me to enjoy, but the version you recommended with Bernius is probably the best we're bound to get. I guess it just seems more like a symphony that wants to be a cantata. I enjoyed listening to this version but can't imagine I'll go back to it too often. I've always enjoyed the Third Symphony and there are so many wonderful versions - Toscanini, Maag, Munch - but the Bernstein version with the Israel Phil was a real find! I had never heard it before and was blown away! It is a treasure! So thanks so much for pointing me in that direction. I haven't listened to Abbado's Fourth yet. I heard Bernstein's and Munch's as pairings to some of your other suggestions. It's hard to imagine a better performance than Szell's. The Munch version of No. 5 is great but not better than many others.

[@culturalconfederacy782]

Awesome video. David, you are absolutely spot on about Mendelssohn. When I heard the Second and Third symphony, Ruy Blas and the Fair Mesulina for the first time, it was a real eye opener to how great a composer he really was. Had the chance to hear his Elijah live and it was fantastic. By the way, would you possibly consider doing a review on the Mendelssohn Organ Sonatas. Thanks.

[@MilsteinRulez]

The Fourth: You really had me there. I would have expected Mr. Sz. It’s so glorious, and was my first recording ever of the piece. Spoiled me for almost everything else. I used to have a Third from a budget label which someday I threw away, only to recognise later that there was none other in which the clarinet went as completely wild as in that one - from bubbling pp to a beam of golden sunshine blazing above the tutti. Never remembered who did it.

[@petermerelis]

I'm glad to hear that there are other defenders of the 2nd out there

[@tonytaylor3476]

Wow great video, I’ve heard the Mendelssohn 2nd dozens of times but never remember it! Amazing, what a gorgeous movement clip you played. Have quite a few versions, going to give this a spin tomorrow. Will try my Ashkenazy cd, see how he does it. Great series of videos these David. Please, please a Vaughan Williams 1-9 review!!!! Thanks again

[@ThreadBomb]

I love Ashkenazy in the 2nd! Beautiful sopranos.

[@Vikingvideos50]

Thank you for advocating for the earlier Mendelssohn symphonies. Have you considered doing an episode on the Niels Gade symphonies and overtures? They're not all equally great, but some are true gems and deserve to be heard. Some Mendelssohnian touches in them.

[@luanllluan]

Loving to discover this great composer. Munch and Sawallisch are up there to me

[@nicholasjschlosser1724]

Dohnanyi's was the recording that really opened my eyes to how wonderful Mendelssohn's 1st Symphony is. And the Bernstein recording of the 3rd really is a great one. When I first heard it, I thought some members of the orchestra came in too early on the final chord. Looking at the score revealed that it wasn't a mistake-the violins and violas play a sixteenth note just before the rest of the orchestra plays the last chord. The Bernstein/IPO performance is one of the few that plays it so that you can hear what Mendelssohn wrote.

[@carlcurtis]

I love your comments on the Lobegesang, Symphony 2. It delighted me the first time I heard it (Abbado/LSO) and wondered why it was not better known. Well, now I know--and I also know how unjustly neglected it has been. And I'll try to find the Carus version.

[@Warp75]

I really need to give Mendelssohn a listen. He’s a composer that’s passed me by.

[@petejilka968]

Munch's Recording of the 3rd Symphony with the BSO is also quite Fabulous. But the one I absolutely love is the luminous and glorious sounding "Scottish" with William Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphony on the Capitol LP.

[@jfddoc]

I love these!! Here are my picks: 1st- D'Avelos/Philharmonia. Used to be on IMP. Full speed ahead performance. 2nd- Dohnanyi/VPO 3rd- Maag/LSO Still a demonstration quality recording. 4th- Szell/CO Amazing precision and he takes the essential 1st movement repeat. And finally, AFTER 30+ YEARS, Sony/BMG fixed the missing repeat in the trio of the 3rd movement for the big Szell box. (It should run a few seconds over 7 minutes). 5th- Toscanini/NBC. Plays the final movement slower than anyone, and it generates tremendous power. James Levine tried the same thing live with the CSO, but couldn't duplicate it.

[@bobcinquino9937]

I am embarrassed. I am 71 and listened to the 1st for the first time just now. Better late than never. The Scottish is my favorite by far with Klemperer and the Philharmonia. This Lenny fan will listen to your pick ASAP. I too was never all that crazy about the Italian. The Reformation is great. I'll listen to the 2nd shortly. Thanks Dave.

[@alfredolabbe]

Klemperer is also my favourite Third!

[@zachricemusic]

When you first started talking about the Lobgesang like it was trash... I was very, very confused 😂 I'm glad you came back around a bit later!

[@johnburlinson6697]

You're on a roll. This game is such fun! 1. Hilary Davan Wetton -- Milton Keynes Chamber Orchestra 2. Christoph Spering -- Das Neue Orchester (with Soile Isokoski!) 3. Herbert Blomstedt -- San Francisco Symphony 4. Charles MacKerras -- Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 5. Leonard Bernstein -- Israel Philharmonic

[@guiadosclassicos]

Thanks for show us the Bernius’s 2nd. Amazing! But please say a word about Klemperer’s 3rd, the Bayerisches one. It is, for my ears, one of the great recordings of all times ♥️🎵♥️ My list: 1 Dohnányi (bingo!) - 2 Abbado LSO - 3 Klemperer BRSO - 4 Sinopoli PhilhO - 5 Bernstein NYPh

[@RabidCh]

Wish the 5th was played more. I think it's a very fun symphony when done right.

[@VallaMusic]

now I have to listen to Symphony #2 for the first time in my life

[@lilivonshtupp1527]

Thanks for the survey. Here we go: 1. Claus Peter Flor (RCA) 2. Kurt Masur w/Gewandhaus (Teldec & Apex reissue) 3. Christoph von Dohnanyi w/Cleveland (Telarc) - also with Walpurgisnacht 4. James Levine w/Berlin (DG) 5. Charles Munch w/Boston (RCA SACD)

[@TomFinot]

I'm a big fan of Symphony #2. The string writing in the 1st movement blows me away. Although not my favorite version, the Masur is pretty good and I love the organ which I suppose was optional.

[@jules153]

You sir are a very prolific KZbin-er, hats off!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I try!

[@francispanny5068]

My favorite version of the Italian Symphony is Klemperer on EMI. The Reformation with Bernstein NYPO Sony is splendid

[@alfredolabbe]

Klemperer's "Italian" is one of my favourites, too! And his Third also! Of course there are other very good ones.

[@CortJohnson]

Great intro Dave! Glad you like Solti😖

[@johnwright7749]

I have been guilty of listening mostly to 3, 4, and 5, though I have gained real appreciation for No. 2. I also have No.1 on a BBC Music cover disc that I’ll now listen again to. Otherwise, for 2 it’s with the BBC Orch of Wales under Richard Hickox (also BBC Music)-a superb performance with first-class soloists. That said, I’ll have to try Bernius. I have great respect for his work on Carus: a terrific Cherubini C minor Requiem and the best Beethoven Missa Solemnis since Bernstein’s first recording that has been my favorite till now (I find his Concertgebouw account dull in comparison). Bernius gets through the mass in under 68 minutes but it never sounds rushed! Now to the other Mendelssohn symphonies: 3 - Harnoncourt/Chamber Orch of Europe 4 - Abbado/Berlin (but Harnoncourt is as good) 5 - Gardiner/Vienna (not the later LSO!). Gardiner blows the cobwebs off this work better than anyone since Paray. Just listen to the timpani! So exciting!

[@rsmickeymooproductions4877]

Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op 11 Philharmonia Orchestra - Francesco D'Avalos (IMP) (This is definitely a sleeper but not sure if its available now) Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 52 'Lobgesang' Czech Philharmonic Chorus & Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Wolfgang Sawallisch (SUP) Symphony No. 5 in D major, Op. 107 'Reformation' (Everything connected well on this recording. The BPO give it all) Berliner Philharmoniker Lorin Maazel * Didn't bother with 3 and 4.... too many good ones but i do like Blomstedt/SFSO (Decca)

[@oscaraitorp3922]

Gaetano Delogu recorded the 4th and 5th with the Czech Philarmonic and are fantastic!He got a wonderful balance between its classical and romantic essence,just what this music is.

[@warlock7760]

Great video as always! Mendelssohn was an underrated genius and those 5 symphonies are a proof of that (among many other things he wrote). I have a soft spot for the 3rd and 4th symphonies done by Frans Bruggen (along with a wonderful Hebrides overture) any opinion on those recordings?

[@curseofmillhaven1057]

Don't know 1&2 well enough, so wouldn't presume to offer an opinion. For Symphony No. 3 Cleveland, Dohnányi coupled with the splendid Die erste Walpurgisnacht on Telarc. For 4, although I like Abbado's LSO version, I think Mackerras' period instrument performance with the OAE on Virgin (as was) is a model how to do it this way. For 5 - Abbado LSO all the way, although do still like Munch BSO on RCA (perhaps purely for nostalgic reasons - it's how I got to know the piece!).

[@carlosshosta9040]

The recordings i enjoy the most: 1) Dohnanyi / Wiener Philharmoniker (DECCA) 2) Abbado / LSO (DG) 3) Karajan / Berliner Philharmoniker (DG) 4) Sinopoli / Philharmonia (DG) 5) Maazel / Berliner Philhrmoniker (DG)

[@adrianosbrandao]

Ah, the "Lobgesang"! I always refer to it as the "Spinning Wheel" Symphony, because its main theme reminds me of the love theme from Dvorák's "Golden Spinning Wheel"... BTW, Dave, I'd love a video on the "Kytice" symphonic poems. They're absolutely amazing and not that popular. It's my favorite Dvorák, by far.

[@indranilpoddar7195]

Adriano Brandão Yes the Dvorak symphonic poems are marvellous and any discussion would surely include the great Zdenek Chalabala...@Dave Hurwitz second this request please. A Czech slug fest..

[@JB-dm5cp]

15:07 Oh my! And then the Fifth: I love it ;-) Thank you for your recommendation (Munch)!

[@markzacek237]

I have always heard the opening measures of the Reformation as if the mists of history were rising to reveal - well, I don’t know what. But it is one of the most beautiful openings in the literature. So evocative. Ola Rudner on Audite (I think) recorded an absolutely wonderful performances of the later version of the Italian and the earlier version of the Reformation with its astonishing, extended flute solo launching the finale (this needs to added back into a new standard performing edition) and a shockingly flat ending! The recording is SACD and gorgeous. Worth a search.

[@JB-dm5cp]

Mark Zacek Thanks for the tip. I sampled the recording you mentioned. I like the vibe of the performance and the beautifully expansive sound (which fits Symphony no. 5). I am personally very partial to the recording by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra under David Zinman, an older recording on the Vox label of Symphony 3, 4 and 5 and the music for ‘A Midsummernight’s Dream’.

[@RequiemAeternam01]

My top choices for the "Italian" symphony have always been either Sir Neville Marriner's 1994 recording with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields on Philips or Sir Georg Solti's 1985 recording with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Decca. Both wonderful performances (although I prefer Solti's "Scottish", as it's a bit more untamed than Marriner) and they're both given great sound.

[@AlexMadorsky]

Dave, reading your Mendelssohn book really opened my eyes. I always thought Mendelssohn a bit lightweight as a symphonist, although I’ve loved many of the overtures and the violin concerto forever. I was wrong, to put it mildly. Am I totally nuts for now thinking No. 1 might be Mendelssohn’s best symphony? I think it’s a riveting masterpiece. I could listen to Litton’s take on the first every day. I think the pacing and timbral blending edges Dohnanyi, which is also truly outstanding. Could have more to do with the engineering than the conducting.

[@aaronrabushka5688]

Another great Mendelssohn symphony cycle: Sawallisch with the New Philharmonia Orchetra and Chorus. Everything a Mendelssohn cycle should be!

[@MLV_memories]

in 2 different bios of Mendelssohn, in the analysis of the 3rd symphony, both authors talk about that majestic theme at the end as if it were not up to the standard of the rest of the work. One author referred to it as "unfortunate." Why? What's wrong with it? And speaking of that, I just heard the Munch/Boston Symphony recording of the 3rd. That fantastic ending! Holy crap!!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Munch is amazing, and I have no idea why anyone bitches about the ending. I think it's great.

[@danieljoseph2015]

I was very glad to hear what you say about Mendelssohn's symphonies -- and particularly glad to hear you say that Wagner had, shall we say, listened carefully to the Reformation Symphony, No. 5. I have thought that for many years, and, in Ko-Ko's words, am very glad to hear my opinion backed by a competent authority. What Wagner said dismissively about Mendelssohn's music is particularly disgraceful given how much use Wagner made of it.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

Masur doing no 2 is terrific. "Ist die Nacht bald hin ?" if I remember it right. It is so intense which is fine for that section but Masur does all the piece intensely. I respect his doing that but it would work better if he varied the mood from time to time though it is not bad at all. Masur does Paulus beautifully. Munch Abbado and Bernstein I will give them a listen.

[@mogmason6920]

That Abbado disc has got to be one of my favourite classical recordings of all time!

[@markzacek237]

Yes, his Midsummer Night’s Dream coupling makes for an absolutely enchanting disc.

[@kimjy7118]

I bought Bernius' 'Lobgesang' after I watched this video, and it's absolutely beautiful. Really enjoying it. Thanks for the great recommendation! Would you recommend his other recordings of Mendelsshn's sacred choral works as well? Elijah for instance?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Glad you enjoy it! I will do others as well, but I'm not rushing!

[@williamhicks2299]

Hello David Hurwitz, Could you perhaps give us an overview of which recordings you prefer of Mendelssohn's Incidental Music to Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM? This music never fails to enchant me! I've heard many different recordings, and there's really not a bad one in the bunch, as this music seems to bring out the best in everybody concerned. Nevertheless, here is a short list of ones I have loved through the years: The complete Shakespeare play and incidental music conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent; the complete incidental music with some narration conducted by John Eliot Gardiner, and also the recording conducted by Erich Leinsdorf; the complete incidental music without narration in the recordings by Peter Maag, Rafael Kubelik, and Otto Klemperer; and excerpts conducted by Carl Schuricht, Eugene Ormandy, Paul Paray, and George Szell. I have over a dozen recordings in my own collection, and since you are such an excellent guide to the 'creme de la creme' and also a discoverer of hitherto unknown treasures, I would love to hear your thoughts and recommendations.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you. I will do it at some point.

[@BAW05X]

My picks: Like many here, I am a 3, 4, 5 guy, though I do like #1 quite a bit. Symphony #1: Abbado (DG); Did anyone else notice that Abbado always did a decent #1...for most people? Mahler 1 (twice), Bruckner 1 (again, somehow, twice), Prokofiev (DG, and a fun disc), Brahms 1 (one of his finest recordings)....not very scientific, but amusing all the same. And this is another fine #1. Symphony #2: Dohnanyi (Decca); He has to be here, if only because Decca has treated him so badly and he deserves more box sets than just his Mendelssohn cycle. Symphony #3: Blomstedt (Decca); Perhaps an odd choice, but one of our longest living conductors gets my nod here, as much for the excellence of the San Francisco Symphony as the similarly poor treatment from Decca. Munch can go here without much problem, too. Symphony #4: Bernstein (Sony Classical); DG is the obvious choice, I suppose, but I think the earlier Sony version has just that much more lightness and joy, even if the New York Philharmonic isn't the most beautiful orchestra in the world. Symphony #5: Paray (Mercury Living Presence); With Munch's Decca recording languishing in limbo before the Gods....I mean good folk at Eloquence shoved it in a box, this is probably the most "French" performance after that one, a transparent and beautifully phrased reading with tremendous character from the winds. The Detroit Symphony could play more beautifully, but the sound is good and the overall impression is of days gone by. The couplings, with daringly quick tempos in the Midsummer Night's Suite and a certain old fashioned charm in the uh...Haydn symphony, won't be to everyone's taste, but it's a classic of its type.

[@indranilpoddar7195]

Hi Dave first of all...a grand gesture of thanks and a courtly bow. This was wonderful...May I request if you can add some “off the beaten track” versions as well ...things that are brought out by some conductor in a reading that is different and probably adds to our understanding of the possibilities of the piece. For example Klemperer’s Mendelssohn, I simply adore the Scotch symphony, not for all moods perhaps but very very rewarding. In a different vein, a more mainstream set of favourites is the Muti, especially the Italian and the old Cantelli version for a more historical choice. Thank you for the Bernius, it really is superb and as you have pointed out a strong antidote to the Karajan. What are your views on the Haitink 2nd and the Maazel 5th? I love the latter and am not really sure about the former...

[@indranilpoddar7195]

Apologies Dave...I think it was the Chailly Lobgesang in the Philips Duo series not Haitink. Do you know of any recording of this symphony by Haitink?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I do not. The Maazel is very good.

[@stevenklinden]

I'd love to hear your recommendations for recordings of the string symphonies.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That will come.

[@Don-md6wn]

@Steven Linden, if you have an SACD player, look for the entire set (including #8 in both original strings only and the version with winds) by the Amsterdam Sinfonietta conducted by Lev Markiz on one disc with 4 hours and 15 minutes of music on BIS. Presto Classical had it for about $15 a month or so ago. I have been listening to it for the last couple of hours, and it is absolutely superb in terms of both performance and sound. Note - it can only be played by an SACD player. If you don't have an SACD player, it was also put out as a normal 4 disc set, but I don't know if that's in print or available at a reasonable price. And I have to say, #8 in the original version is a masterpiece, ignoring the fact that it was written by a 13 year old.

[@teeker2012]

Klemperer and Bavarian Radio recorded the 3rd sym with conductor's own ending!! Apparently he wasn't convinced that Mendelssohn ended the piece properly, and thought the ending was an inappropriate appendage just sewn on to give it an exciting feel; but it didn't feel Scottish or have anything to do with the rest of the symphony. I kinda like it, but I prefer Mendelssohn's original ending.

[@denbigh51]

Love the cycle by Yannick Nezet Sequin with the COE - especially the coda of the Scottish where the the timpani and horns really ring out

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Oh dear, I think it's pretty uninteresting.

[@denbigh51]

according to the Gramophone critic these are imaginative and fabulously executed performances which are bound to please

[@james.t.herman]

Nazgul!

[@markzacek237]

Mendelssohn is my guy and I savored every word of your talk, Dave. And I generally like YNS too but I think he’s terrible in Mendelssohn. No weight, no sense of event - just skimming the surface with a scrawny orchestra. Yuck. For the absolute opposite, try Colin Davis’ Scottish with the Staatskapelle Dresden on Profil. Wonderfully weighty and eventful performance even though he doesn’t perform the final beats because they wouldn’t work at his tempo.

[@dranfox]

I listened to the second this evening (Dohnányi) and ENJOYED IT! I've also had some sort of mental block with Mendelssohn and need to remedy it. But then again, tomorrow you'll post a video on something else and head me in that direction. Too much music, not enough time! Thanks for the video and looking forward to hearing your opinions on the String Symphonies, which I adore. I popped over to Amazon, all set to buy your book, but they only have an audio CD version. Is the book out? Kindle version?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

You can probably get it from the publisher, Rowman and Littlefield (Amadeus Press). Thanks for trying!

[@dranfox]

@@DavesClassicalGuide I looked at the Amazon listing again. It looks like a book with a CD included, like a number of your books. But they've listed the product as an audio CD rather than a paperback for some reason. A bit confusing. I sprung for it anyway, confident that you will personally reimburse me if I'm not completely satisfied.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@dranfox Well, thank you for that provisional endorsement.

[@pbarach1]

Fine recording of #1 with Lane/Cleveland, still available as an ArkivCD. Why bother? Because it's the cleveland orchestra in top form!

[@jfddoc]

The Bell Telephone Hour Szell video has a conversation with Lane about the third movement. I’ll have to check the performance out!

[@salocindejuan9648]

Dear David, you mentioned as complete cycles Dohnany, Litton and Abbado. In your video about Schumann you recommended the Sawallisch cycle. How do you rate his Mendelssohn cycle? By the way, after listening your recomendation of Muti for the Tchaikovsky cycle, I found that he also did a praised recording of Mendelssohn 3,4 and 5 + many incidental overtures.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

His Mendelssohn is very good.

[@dennischiapello7243]

One of the things I've appreciated most about your series is that I've developed an appreciation for Bernstein, whom I had lazily come to take for granted and then ignore. Not anymore. And today I discovered his Scottish with the NY Phil and was blown away by the energy and phrasing from the very beginning (even the slow introduction) through to the end. I only had one recording for these many years, and I'm sorry to report that was Abbado with LSO. It never excited me, but I had no idea how much he was withholding! Since you recommend Abbado for some of the others, I'll temper my criticism, but I've put him in the dog-house for the time being. I take your point about the gentlemanly Mendelssohn, but Bernstein shows he had good red blood in his veins, all the same.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Abbado is excellent of his type, and it's a legitimate approach, but Bernstein was a genius and operated on another level.

[@eyalbraun2268]

my list: No 1- Dohnanyi No 2- Abbado No 3- Blomstedt No. 4- Klemperer No. 5- Maazel

[@alfredolabbe]

Bravo! Klemperer 4th is really great! And it sounds magnificent in its SACD remastering. And his Third is also very good!

[@fred6904]

Dear Mr Hurwitz! Is there a possibility that you could do a talk about the ten greatest symphonies of all time? Best wishes.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I'll think about it!

[@markzacek237]

It absolutely MUST include the Scottish!

[@jgesselberty]

The 2nd always impressed me as Mendelssohn trying to outdo the Beethoven 9th. But, it's not. It is, as you point out, just a beautiful new approach to the choral symphony.

[@james.t.herman]

Awesome! I don’t know any of these records. It’s going to take me forever to listen to everything I’ve written down from this channel! By the way, thanks to your Brahms Third video I now have my own ideal Brahms symphonies cycle: 1: Budapest Festival Orchestra, Fischer 2. Los Angeles Philharmonic, Giulini 3. London Philharmonic, Jochum 4. Staatskapelle Dresden, Sanderling (could be Berlin and Abbado, too)

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Rock on!

[@andreashelling3076]

What do think of Gardiners Menselsohn, it has been praised in the UK at least

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

It's mediocre.

[@tarakb7606]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Like a lot of his work.

[@markfarrington5183]

Actually, it wasn't Szell I thought you would pick for the ITALIAN...I thought it would be van Beinum.

[@kend.6797]

I do prefer the string symphonies to the other numbered symphonies and I will look for your video on those when the time comes. The Scottish symphony is one that I do like and I will look for the Bernstein/Israel recording as I have not heard it before, so thanks for the heads up. #5 is a great work - agreed. I would take that one over #4 any day. My view is that #4 is overplayed and I have long grown tired of it.

[@Heb.2000]

Diet of worms lol

[@jimcochran1408]

Diet of Worms, meeting of the Diet (assembly) of the Holy Roman Empire held at Worms, Germany, in 1521, made famous by Martin Luther's appearance before it FYI

[@james.t.herman]

Somebody give this man a PhD!!!