Â鶹Éç

This week, Kate Molleson follows Felix Mendelssohn's journeys across the British Isles. Today, a summer tour takes the young composer north to Scotland, where dramatic landscapes, Highland culture and the Hebrides leave an indelible (though not always positive) mark on his imagination. Along the way, he finds inspiration for some of his best-loved music, including the Scottish Symphony and Hebrides Overture. But not every destination proves equally enchanting, as a rain-soaked stay in Wales leaves Mendelssohn with rather different impressions.

Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, Scottish: II. Vivace non troppo
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Lahav Shani, conductor

Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, Scottish: IV. Allegro vivacissimo – Allegro maestoso assai
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Hebrides Overture, Op. 26
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Jaime Laredo, conductor

Fantasia in F sharp minor, Op. 28 (Scottish Sonata)
Zecharia Plavin, piano

Three Fantasies (or Caprices), Op. 16
Valerie Tryon, piano

Produced by Ellie Ajao for Â鶹Éç Audio Wales and West.