Ensemble Dimanche 92nd Concert

◆The theme of this year's concert is "Music about England
　The theme of this concert is "Music about England". However, it is not music by British composers. We will feature works related to England by Mendelssohn and Haydn, two foreign composers who have visited England.

　Visiting England was not the same as today, when one could fly or take a train from the continent. It must have been a long and arduous journey, involving days of riding in a horse-drawn carriage to the port, and then changing to a boat. Nevertheless, it is said that Mendelssohn visited England 10 times during his lifetime, including his first trip to Scotland in 1829, when he was 20 years old. The overture "Fingal's Cave" and the symphony No. 3 "Scotland" in this issue depict Mendelssohn's impressions of this trip. Both were conceived shortly after his return, but "Fingal's Cave" was completed in 1830, while "Scotland" was completed 12 years later, in 1842. During those 12 years, symphonies No. 5 "Reformation" (1830), No. 4 "Italy" (1833), and No. 2 "Hymn" (1840) were completed first, and "Scotland" became Mendelssohn's last symphony.

　Meanwhile, Haydn visited England twice in 1791-95 at the invitation of Zalomon. Zalomon was a German-born violinist and entertainer who had settled in London. Symphonies Nos. 93-104 are called the "London Symphony" or "Zalomon Symphony" because they were premiered in London during these two visits. Of these, Nos. 93 to 98, composed and premiered in London during the first visit in 1791-92, are called the "First London Symphony. No. 93, which will be performed here, was composed in 1791 and premiered in London in February 1792. In the order of symphony numbering, it is the first symphony of the first London Symphony, but in the order of composition (order of premiere), No. 96 and No. 95 are earlier, so it is actually the third symphony. The next symphony, No. 94, is nicknamed "Astonishment" because of the sudden one-shot loud sound in the second movement, and in fact, this No. 93 has parts that express Haydn's unique sense of humor as well, which may be a prelude to "Astonishment".