Felix the Wonder Child

Robert Schumann described Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy as the Mozart of the 19th century, as he had mastered both piano playing and composition from an early age. With the album “Wunderkind Felix,” conductor Patrick van der Linden and Ars Musica pay tribute to the early works of the young Felix, who composed the pieces between the ages of 14 and 19. Ars Musica presents a new orchestration of the 1st Symphony for chamber orchestra, exploring the flexible orchestrations of Mendelssohn’s youthful works. Also performed are his equally youthful String Symphony No. 10 and his Kyrie, performed by the Ars Musica Chorus and Orchestra. Soprano Nanette Mans and the Ars Musica Chorus join the orchestra to perform the cantata “Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten” and his setting of “Ave maris stella,” both of which were composed in 1828 when he was only 19 years old.