Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 1-5

The recordings of all Mendelssohn symphonies by Kammerakademie Potsdam under the direction of Antonello Manacorda were euphorically praised: "Manacorda and the Kammerakademie Potsdam know exactly how to offer listening alternatives without stretching the bow too much or even relying on pure effect. [...] Here one notices the pleasure the team has taken in playing this music." (Rondo)

"Not only does the warmly grounded, discreetly roughened sound of the orchestra turn our image of Mendelssohn upside down: Manacorda also designs with great attention to detail. He masterfully builds up phrases and balances the overall sound, and he also possesses an unerring sense of tempo. Everything breathes here, the music is constantly in flow, [...] [a] largely perfect picture." (Concerti)

A 3-CD-Set of these sensational recordings is now being released. The Symphony No. 2 "Lobgesang", which already enjoyed enormous success during the composer's lifetime and became one of Mendelssohn's most frequently performed works, is especially interesting because of its mixture of symphony and cantata. The soloists of the recording of this symphony are the sopranos Maria Bengtsson and Johanna Winkel and the tenor Pavol Breslik accompanied by the renowned NDR Choir.

"Manacorda leads his orchestra transparently, almost like a chamber musician, and thus gives enough space to the excellently disposed soloist trio (...). The more pithy the accents (...), the more dramatically urgent the question of whether the night will soon be over, the more touching the brightly bell-like redemption with the following choral fugue. (Fono Forum)