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)

Released in 1972 on the East German ETERNA label, this recording features Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s early string symphonies performed by the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig under the direction of Kurt Masur. These symphonies, composed during Mendelssohn’s early adolescence, reflect the technical training he received from Carl Friedrich Zelter, blending classical structures with the precocious melodic inventiveness that would characterize his later, more famous works.

The recording serves as a vital document of the Gewandhausorchester’s long-standing connection to Mendelssohn’s music, as the composer served as the orchestra’s conductor during the nineteenth century. Under Masur, who served as Gewandhauskapellmeister from 1970 to 1996, the ensemble sought to emphasize the clarity and lyrical warmth inherent in the compositions. The production is representative of ETERNA’s commitment to capturing the high-fidelity sound of East German state-sponsored classical music during the Cold War era.