Le Concert des Nations

Jordi Savall, conductor; Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

Jordi Savall – Ein älterer Mann mit Bart hält seine Hände vor der Brust verschränkt und lacht in die Kamera. Er steht vor einem Dirigentenpult an der Seite sind unscharf Streichinstrumente zu erkennen.

Jordi Savall has made a substantial contribution to shedding new light on repertoire from the Classical and Romantic periods with his magnificent original-sound orchestra Le Concert des Nations. His intensely trenchant and sharply focused interpretations have produced incredible performances of symphonic works by Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Bruckner which can hardly be surpassed. Following the homage to Jordi Savall organised by the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation during the season 2025/26, the visionary conductor who is renowned for his meticulous approach will be presenting an evening of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy at the Musikfest Berlin featuring the “Scottish” and “Italian” symphonies alongside his overture The Hebrides.

Thanks to the so-called ‘ancient’ Ossian poetry edited by James McPherson (whose authenticity was rightfully questioned at an early stage), Sir Walter Scott’s historical novels and also Johann Gottfried Herder’s folk song collection Lieder der Völker, Scotland was transformed into a highly romanticised projection screen which captivated people across Europe during the 19th century. One of those fascinated by Scotland was Felix Mendelssohn who travelled through the Scottish Highlands prior to his obligatory excursion to “the land where the lemon trees are blooming”. While following in the steps of Mary Queen of Scots among the ruins of the chapel next to Holyrood Castle, he sketched the first bars of his “Scottish” symphony. After passing through Abbotsford, the residence of Sir Walter Scott, he visited the Hebrides, the remote group of islands off the north-west coast of Scotland. From the small fishing village Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, he wrote a letter to his family, enclosing a sketch of the first 21 bars of what would subsequently become the Hebrides Overture: descending waves of triadic figuration illustrate the swell of the rough sea and lyrical themes evoke images of the windswept rugged coastline. It was however not until substantially later that Mendelssohn finally devoted himself to the actual composition of these two works presented by Jordi Savall with his orchestra Le Concert des Nations at the Musikfest Berlin – after an extended stay in Italy where a further musical travelogue would be created: the popular “Italian” symphony featuring music whose swirling stylisation of Neapolitan folk dances bewitches listeners into the glaring light of the southern sun.

At this concert, the experienced members of the orchestra Le Concert des Nations will perform alongside participants from the orchestral academy established by Jordi Savall whose programme includes this guest appearance in Berlin. The YOCPA – Young Orchestra and Choir Professional Academies project is organised by the foundation JORDI SAVALL / Centre Internacional de Música Antiga Fundació CIMA and receives subsidies from the European Union. The academy provides training and career opportunities for young musicians, combining the educational work of professional musicians with the learning processes of aspiring young musicians. The academies are held both in genuine locations and in digital form, providing additional opportunities to perform on leading European stages together with the La Capella Nacional de Catalunya and Le Concert des Nations under the direction of Jordi Savall and participate in CD recordings.

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847)

Symphony No. 3 A minor op. 56 “Scottish” (1841/42, rev. 1843)

Version 1843

Concert ouverture No. 2 The Hebrides (“Fingal’s Cave”) op. 26 (1829–1833)

Symphony No. 4 A major op. 90 “Italian” (1831–33, rev. 1834) 

Version 1834

Artists/Collaborators: Jordi Savall

With the support of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Institut Ramon Llull Consortium, with financial support from the Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles Occitanie, co-financed by the European Union.

A Berliner Festspiele / Musikfest Berlin event

Work introduction

18:10, South Foyer

Next date:

• Date Saturday, 29/August/2026 19:00
• Venue Philharmonie Berlin
• Address Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, 10785 Berlin-Tiergarten