CU Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven, Mendelssohn May 6

John Hsu

On Saturday, May 6, at 8 p.m. in Bailey Hall, the Cornell Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor John Hsu, presents a concert of two symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven and Felix Mendelssohn. This event is free and open to the public.

The concert opens with Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in F Major, op. 93. There is perhaps no such thing as a "typical" Beethoven symphony, but when viewed retrospectively, Symphony No. 8 is surely one of the great surprises in Beethoven's late mature period. Composed just months after Symphony No. 7, it almost seems to have been written by a different composer. In many respects, for example the smaller instrumentation and overall scope, it resembles the more prototypically "classical" symphonies of Haydn and Mozart than it does Beethoven's post-"Eroica" symphonies.

The story behind the creation of Mendelssohn's "Reformation" Symphony (No. 5 in D Major, op. 107) is a sad one. In anticipation of the tercentenary of Martin Luther's "Augsburg Confession" (Aug. 25, 1530), which would be cause for celebrations all over Protestant Germany, Mendelssohn started working on a commemorative symphony, confident he would be able to arrange a performance at an official celebration in Berlin, Leipzig or elsewhere. Circumstances, however, were against him. The musical commission for the Berlin festivities went to another young composer, Eduard Grell. The now-forgotten Grell had two advantages over Mendelssohn: first, Grell had risen through the ranks in Berlin, rather than touring to gain international fame; second, he was not Jewish. Though Mendelssohn had been baptized and raised as a Lutheran (adding Bartholdy to his surname), his Jewish origin was never forgotten, largely because of his famous grandfather, philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. The Augsburg anniversary was one of such religious and political significance that Mendelssohn may not even have been considered an appropriate candidate. His symphony eventually was published and was well-received but only after the composer's death in 1847.

Hsu, the Old Dominion Foundation Professor of Humanities and Music, has been a member of the Cornell music faculty since 1955. Through the years, he has taught the cello and courses in music theory, music history and performance. He also has conducted the Cornell Collegium Musicum, Cornell Chamber Orchestra and Sage Chapel Choir, performing music ranging from the Renaissance to the 20th century.

He is artistic director emeritus of the Aston Magna Foundation for Music and the Humanities, conductor of the Apollo Ensemble (a period-instrument chamber orchestra) and a world-renown player of the viola da gamba and baryton. As instrumentalist and conductor, he has recorded award-winning CDs and toured throughout this country and Europe.