Mendelssohn, Barber, and music for two pianists

Overview

Felix Mendelssohn was a child prodigy on the level of Mozart. When he was 16 he composed his Octet, blending youthful exuberance with a maturity and sophistication of style that helped launch his international career due to the sheer charm of the music, including the Faust-inspired scherzo, with its flitting melodies and lighter-than-air sensations, a particular specialty of Mendelssohn’s. Completing the program are American composer Samuel Barber’s hazy wind quintet Summer Music, and music for two pianists by Ligeti, Debussy and Amy Beach featuring FWSO Music Director Robert Spano and Pedja Mužijevic.