Associazione Mendelssohn

The Mendelssohn Association was founded by pianist Roberto Prosseda in April 2009, in collaboration with Alessandra Ammara, Aldo Bernardini, Ingrid Sattel, Tina Messineo and Giovanni Scoz, as a natural continuation of his many years of activity in rediscovering and recording unpublished Mendelssohn works, which until then had been carried out exclusively on his own.

The Mendelssohn Association aims, therefore, to continue and develop the contacts and projects of research and enhancement of Felix Mendelssohn's production already initiated by Roberto Prosseda and, at the same time, to carry out new initiatives, also by accepting proposals from members and external persons and institutions. For this purpose, a scientific committee was appointed consisting of Bruno Cagli, Hans Fazzari, Raoul Meloncelli, Charles Rosen, Peter Ward Jones and Pietro Zappalà.

The research work of the Mendelssohn Association will be carried out in the light of the constant scientific updating gained from the frequent comparison and exchange of experiences with the most authoritative Mendelssohn experts. The honorary presidency of Riccardo Chailly is a further sign of the esteem and trust that the Mendelssohn Association has immediately earned in the international music scene.

Publications

The Mendelssohn Association has produced the critical edition of the following Mendelssohn piano scores, with critical apparatus edited by Roberto Prosseda:

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: 4 Piano Sonatas (1820) Raitrade RTC 2596 (2009) Sonata MWW U 8 in A minor Sonata in C minor (MWV U 13, 15, 17) Sonata MWV U 19 in E minor Sonata MWV U 23 in F minor

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: 6 Fugues for Piano (1821-26), Raitrade RTC 3175 (2009) Fugue MWV U 32 in D minor (1821) Fugue MWV U 36 in D minor (1822) Fugue MWV U 37 in B minor (1822) Fugue MWV U 46 in G minor (1824) Fugue MWV U 51 in C sharp minor (1826) Fugue MWV U 57 in E flat major (1826)

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Fantasia in D minor/major MWV T 1 for piano 4 hands (1824), Raitrade RTC 3176 (2009)

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Piano Rarities. 29 unpublished piano pieces (Curci Editions, in preparation).

i-Mendelssohn

In 2016 Associazione Mendelssohn and the Mendelssohn-Stiftung Leipzig released the new "iMendelssohn" app, now available free of charge on the App Store for iPhones and iPads, and on the Google Play Store for all phones and tablets with the Android operating system.

iMendelssohn was a comprehensive documentation tool on German composer Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847): the first of its kind for a classical music composer. The app which was available in English, providing detailed information on the composer's musical output, giving a complete list of his more than 1,400 compositions, based on Ralf Wehner's new catalog (Breitkopf, 2009), as well as an extensive discography and bibliography and a large selection of Mendelssohn's epistolary. It also included extensive gallery of images, including various reproductions of manuscripts of Mendelssohn's scores and letters, numerous portraits of Mendelssohn by various painters of the time, as well as watercolors he painted himself.

One section was devoted to the Mendelssohn Haus in Leipzig, the house where Mendelssohn lived during the last three years of his life, now used as the Mendelssohn Museum and run by the Mendelssohn-Stiftung, co-producer of the app. The numerous audio and video files included in the app allowed users to listen to various interpretations of Mendelssohn's music by internationally renowned musicians, including pianist Roberto Prosseda, president of the Mendelssohn Association and currently considered among the most influential Mendelssohn interpreters.

"The goal of this project," Prosseda declared, "is to bring the public closer to the music of Felix Mendelssohn through a practical reference and documentation tool, useful for both novices and Mendelssohn musicians and scholars. The app's innovative format allows it to bring together not only textual information, but also images, music and films, which can always be at your fingertips, even without a data connection, once you download the app to your smartphone. In addition, the app's intuitive interface allows for easy and immediate consultation."

Concorso internazionale di composizione "Michele Novaro"

In 2016 - 2018 Associazione Mendelssohn, in collaboration with Italgas, organized the International Composition Competition named after Michele Novaro, a composer whom few Italians remember despite the fact that his music resonates on every occasion. Novaro (1818-1885) is, in fact, the author of the notes that accompany Mameli's verses of "Il Canto degli Italiani," our National Anthem, composed when he was only 25 years old, at the height of the Risorgimento.

The competition was presented on Nov. 10, 2015, at the Chamber of Deputies in the presence of the chairwoman of the Chamber's Culture Committee, Hon. Flavia Piccoli Nardelli; Hon. Lorenzo Becattini, the project's creator; Maestro Roberto Prosseda, director of the Mendelssohn Association, which promoted the competition; composer Cristian Carrara; and Bruno Burigana, Business Services director of Italgas, the company supporting the initiative. Italgas (Snam Group) is a leader in Italy in the urban distribution of natural gas and is historically recognized as the company that has brought gas to the homes of Italians, contributing to the country's economic and social development.

More than 160 years later, the world of institutions and music at the highest levels wanted to revive the spirit that created that music, asking young composers to write an anthem: notes certainly not intended to replace "Fratelli d'Italia," but inspired by the founding and distinctive values of our country. Melodies that can reflect the identity, culture and spirit of contemporary Italy and that, as only music can do, will be able to inspire new reflections and ideal impulses.

The Competition is open to composers of all nationalities, under 30 years of age, who will be able to submit compositions lasting 7 - 10 minutes for an Ensemble with 7 - 15 instruments. It will be music that will tell about Italy and Italians today and also look to the future as Novaro and Mameli did in 1847, helping to create a united and united country.

The three-year project included three editions, each focusing on a specific theme. The award ceremony for each of the different editions took place in three cities that have been capitals of Italy: Turin, Florence and Rome.

The jury presidents were Luca Lombardi, Krszysztof Penderecki (2017) and Ennio Morricone (2018).

For more information, see www.concorsonovaro.it

TV and DVD productions

Mendelssohn Unknown

52 minutes documentar directed by Angelo Bozzolini. Produced in collaboration with Fataka International and RaiEdu. With interviews to Riccardo Chailly, Steven Isserlis, Kurt Masur, Charles Rosen, Roland Schmidt-Hensel, Ralf Wehner. Filmed in Leipzig, Berlin, Milan, Rome. Broadcast on RaiTre, RaiEdu, Rai5, Televisione Svizzera Italiana, Sky Arts and several other TV channels. Published on DVD by Euroarts (2012).

"Mendelssohn at Teatro Olimpico"

Video Recording of the Concert al Teatro Olimpico, June ’11, 2009 with Sonig Tchakerian, Steven Isserlis and Roberto Prosseda. Music by Felix Mendelssohn (Trio op. 49 and Cello Variations by Mendelssohn/Merck, reconstructed by Gabrio Taglietti).

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Venetian Boat Song op. 19 n. 6 and op. 30 n. 6 Sonata for violin and piano in D minor MWV Q 18 (reconstructed by Alessandro Solbiati) Variations brillantes for cello and piano MWV Q 21 (reconstructed by Gabrio Taglietti) Sonig Tchakerian, violin Steven Isserlis, cello Roberto Prosseda, piano Recorded live at Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza, Italy, 11 June 2009, for Settimane Musicali al Teatro Olimpico. Directed by Pietro Tagliaferri

"Prosseda plays Mendelssohn"

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: 6 Lieder ohne Worte Variations Sérieuses op. 54 Fantasia op. 28 Roberto Prosseda, piano Recorded live in Lodi, Teatro alla Vigne, May 29, 2015. Directed by Pietro Tagliaferri

"Pedal Piano recital" DVD Continuo CR 108

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) 6 Etuden für den Pedalflügel op. 56

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) 4 Skizzen für den Pedalflügel op. 58

Alexandre-Pierre-François Boëly (1785-1858) Fantaisie et Fugue op. 18 n. 6

Gounod (1785-1858) Marche Funèbre pour une marionnette (pedal piano version by Giuseppe Lupis)

Charles Valentin Alkan (1813-1894) Benedictus op. 54 Etudes pour les pieds seulement n. 1, 4, 5 Grands Preludes op. 64 n. 3, 4

Roberto Prosseda, pedal piano

The Chigi Recital DVD Continuo CR 106

Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849) 24 Preludi, op. 28

Claude Debussy (1862–1918) Clair de lune (dalla “Suite bergamasque”)

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) Gaspard de la nuit

Alessandra Ammara, piano Regia: Pietro Tagliaferri.

CD Productions

Mendelssohn: Complete Works for piano four hands and for two pianos

Decca 4812221 (2015) Sonata in D major for two pianos, MWV S 1 Klavierstuck [Sonata movement] in G minor for two pianos, MWV S 2 Fantasie in D minor for piano four hands, MWV T 1 Duetto [Allegro brillante] in A major for piano four hands op. 92, MWV T 4 Andante con Variazioni in B fl at major for piano four hands op. 83a, MWV U 159 Incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream op. 61, MWV M 13 Alessandra Ammara e Roberto Prosseda, piano Da Capo al Fine Decca 481 1010 (3 CDs, 2014) CD 1 | VARIATIONS, PRELUDES AND FUGUES Variations sérieuses op. 54, Variations op. 82, Variations op. 83, 6 Preludes and Fugues op. 35, Prelude and Fugue in E minor CD 2 | KLAVIERSTÜCKE AND ETUDES 7 Charakterstücke op. 7, 6 Kinderstücke op. 72, Andante e Presto agitato in B major/minor, 2 Klavierstücke (Musical Sketches), 3 Preludes op. 104a, 3 Etudes op. 104b, Etude in F minor MWV U 125, Albumblatt in E minor op. 117, Perpetuum mobile in C major op. 119 CD 3 | EARLY AND UNPUBLISHED WORKS 6 Klaviertstucke, [Variations] in D, Walzer in D, [Suite] in G major/minor, Canone a 2 in B minor, Klavierstuck in E minor, Largo in D minor, Bärentanz in F, Klavierstuck in F minor, Allegro [Etude] in A minor, Largo e Allegro di molto in C, Klavierstuck [Walzer] in G / D, Andante in E, Prestissimo in F minor , Vivace in C minor, Thema und Coda in A, Andante maestoso in F, Con moto in A, Allegretto in A minor, Canon in F sharp minor, Sostenuto in F, Klavierstuck in E minor, Andante con moto in E minor, Auf fröhliches Wiedersehn, Andante in E flat, Andante in F, Klavierstuck in A minor , Wie die Zeit lauft! in G minor Roberto Prosseda, piano Mendelssohn: Piano Quartets op. 1 and op. 3. Decca 4811214 (2014) Piano Quartet op. 1 in C minor Piano Quartet op. 3 in B minor Largo e Allegro in D minor, MWV O 1 (1820) Gabriele Pieranunzi, violin Francesco Fiore, viola Shana Downes, cello Roberto Prosseda, piano Mendelssohn: Early Chamber Works Decca 476 5190 (2013) Piano Quartet op. 2 in F minor Piano Quartet in D minor Trio for violin, viola and piano in C minor Gabriele Pieranunzi, violin Francesco Fiore, viola Gabriele Geminiani, cello Roberto Prosseda, piano Piano con Fuoco Decca 476 5118 (2012) CD 1: Fantasia op. 28, Sonata op. 6, Sonata op. 106, Sonata op. 105, Sonata movement in B flat minor (1823) CD 2: Rondo Capriccioso op. 14, Fantasia op. 15, 3 Fantaisies ou Caprices op. 16, 3 Capricci op. 33, Scherzo in B minor, Capriccio op. 5, Capriccio in F sharp minor (1837), Capriccio op. 118. Roberto Prosseda, piano Lieder ohne Worte Decca 476 6796 (2 Cds, 2009) CD 1: Lieder ohne Worte op. 19, op. 30, op. 38, op. 53, op. 62 Lied in D major MWV U 178 (1843) (World Premiere Recording) CD 2: Lieder ohne Worte op. 67, op. 85, op. 102 Lieder ohne Worte without opus number: Lied in E Flat Major - Espressivo & Allegro Lied in A Major - Andante Kleines Lied in A Major - Allegretto Lied in F sharp minor - Allegro molto (World Premiere Recording) Gondellied in A Major - Allegretto non troppo Ein Lied ohne Worte in F major Reiter-Lied in G minor - Allegro Vivace Fuga in D minor (1821) (World Premiere Recording) Fuga in B minor (1822) (World Premiere Recording) Fuga in D minor (1822) (World Premiere Recording) Fuga in G minor (1824) (World Premiere Recording) Allegro con Fuoco in G major (ca. 1840-42), reconstructed by Gabrio Taglietti (2006) (World Premiere Recording) Roberto Prosseda, piano