overflowing with melodic beauty, joyous wit and radiant sunshine. Tchaikovsky loved Italy, as this
invigorating piece displays. On a similar note, Mendelssohn's `Italian' Symphony is brimful of energy
whilst maintaining the melodic beauty inherent in the composer. Sparkle and tenderness enlighten
the Rossini Overture, while Paganini's challenging writing is guaranteed to engage with its demand
for a spectacular performance from the violinist.
lively opening to this concert. Mendelssohn and his family
spent the summer of 1844 in the spa town of Soden, and it
was during this happy vacation that he completed his ever-popular Violin Concerto. Although
it had occupied him for several years, the finished score sparkles with freshness and spontaneity.
The second part of the concert is occupied by Mussorgsky's colossal
to the orchestra, ranging from the quiet lyricism of