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Donald Macleod explores Mendelssohn鈥檚 first visit to London aged 20, when he established a relationship with Britain that would continue throughout his life.

Mendelssohn鈥檚 relationship with Britain began when he was 20 years old, when London became the first stop of his Grand Tour. This week Donald Macleod explores the composer's experiences in Britain, considering the mark he left on musical life in these islands, the works he wrote here, and what he got up to in the course of the ten visits he made across his lifetime. Mendelssohn took inspiration from the scenery, but he also got his first professional engagements in Britain, and in return, by the end of his life, Britain lionized him.

Mendelssohn鈥檚 first impressions of London in April 1829 were of an 鈥榓wful mass鈥� but he settled in quickly. His mission was to escape Berlin and establish an international career, and Britain helped him on his way. The English found his accent charming, he took up lodgings in the centre of the city, and made friends and professional contacts that would last throughout his life.

Songs Without Words op 19b No 1
Glenn Gould, piano

Symphony No 1 in C minor (Mvt 1)
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Yannick N茅zet-S茅guin, conductor

12 Lieder op 9: III 鈥� Wartend
Sophie Danemann, soprano
Eugene Asti, piano

Octet in E flat major (Mvt 3)
Amsterdam Sinfonietta
Lev Markiz, conductor

Concerto in E major for Two pianos (Mvt 2 & 3)
Alessandra Ammara, piano
Roberto Prosseda, piano
Residentie Orkest
Jan Willem de Vriend, conductor