Jugendsinfonien (Sinfonia I C-dur / Sinfonia II D-dur / Sinfonia III E-moll / Sinfonia IV C-moll / Sinfonia V B-dur / Sinfonia VI Es-dur)

The 2008 Berlin Classics release of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s early symphonies, performed by the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig under the baton of Kurt Masur, captures a significant body of work written by the composer between the ages of twelve and fourteen. These twelve string symphonies were never intended for public performance during Mendelssohn’s lifetime, serving instead as pedagogical exercises overseen by his teacher, Carl Friedrich Zelter. Drawing heavy inspiration from the contrapuntal mastery of J.S. Bach and the classical structures of Mozart, these pieces document the remarkable precocity of a young genius learning to harness the traditions of the Baroque and Classical eras.

Kurt Masur’s tenure as Gewandhauskapellmeister was defined by his dedication to maintaining the specific sonic identity of the Leipzig orchestra, particularly regarding their historic connection to the Mendelssohn repertoire. By recording these works with the Gewandhausorchester, Masur leaned into the ensemble's warm, historically grounded approach to articulation and balance. This 2008 compilation was received by critics as a vital reference set, praised for bringing a professional, polished vigor to juvenilia that often risks being dismissed as mere academic study rather than fully realized music.