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Mendelssohn and Korngold at San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Korngold is one of the Big Three when it comes to orchestration
Erich Korngold
The San Diego Symphony Orchestra has wrapped up the first month of the 2025-2026 Jacobs Masterworks Series. Irwin Jacobs himself was at the Saturday, October 18 concert at The Jacobs Music Center, and it happened to be his birthday. The Orchestra played “Happy Birthday” while the audience sang. An extended ovation followed as the San Diego classical music community acknowledged the immense role that Jacobs has played in the life of the city and its culture.
The concert started with Felix Mendelssohn’s “Overture” and “Nocturne” from his Midsummer Night’s Dream Incidental Music. The overture was composed as a standalone piece when he was 17 years old. Later in life, when Mendelssohn was 34, he used the overture as the foundation of the incidental music that he was commissioned to write for a production of the play.
New Zealander Gemma New conducted the concert. Though I found her style to be a tad busy, she did impose some wonderful phrasing on the music. I specifically noticed the trumpets leaning into their phrasing and then tapering off. It was an effective performance.
The second piece was Erich Korngold’s Violin Concerto. I’ve listened to this piece for years, but have never heard it in concert. It did not disappoint. Korngold has an ability to surprise you with unexpected moments of beauty that take your breath away. The opening movement of his Violin Concerto is full of such moments.
Video:
Korngold: Violin Concerto
Violinist Geneva Lewis, also of New Zealand origin, played with exquisite accuracy. Her tone wasn’t overpowering, but I heard every note of the solo part. That might not have been the case before the renovations to the concert hall, but it is the case now. Credit must also go to Maestro New and the orchestra for willingly supporting the solo line without overpowering it. Credit can also go to Korngold himself for the brilliance of his orchestration.
After hearing this performance, it is clear that there are three composers who stand above all others in terms of orchestration. They are Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Maurice Ravel, and Korngold.
The concert concluded with Mendelssohn’s evergreen Symphony No. 4, “Italian." The opening of this symphony is iconic. Mendelssohn propels the music forward from the get-go. I must admit that the piece doesn't sound particularly Italian to my ear, but the outer movements are fantastic nonetheless. The inner movements have never done much for me. Still, the performance was convincing — except for a flaw in the horn section.
The San Diego Symphony Orchestra will now turn its attention to Pagliacci at San Diego Opera, and will return to The Jacobs Masterworks Series on Friday, November 7, with Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Mendelssohn and Korngold at San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Korngold is one of the Big Three when it comes to orchestration
Mendelssohn and Korngold at San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Korngold is one of the Big Three when it comes to orchestration
Erich Korngold
The San Diego Symphony Orchestra has wrapped up the first month of the 2025-2026 Jacobs Masterworks Series. Irwin Jacobs himself was at the Saturday, October 18 concert at The Jacobs Music Center, and it happened to be his birthday. The Orchestra played “Happy Birthday” while the audience sang. An extended ovation followed as the San Diego classical music community acknowledged the immense role that Jacobs has played in the life of the city and its culture.
The concert started with Felix Mendelssohn’s “Overture” and “Nocturne” from his Midsummer Night’s Dream Incidental Music. The overture was composed as a standalone piece when he was 17 years old. Later in life, when Mendelssohn was 34, he used the overture as the foundation of the incidental music that he was commissioned to write for a production of the play.
New Zealander Gemma New conducted the concert. Though I found her style to be a tad busy, she did impose some wonderful phrasing on the music. I specifically noticed the trumpets leaning into their phrasing and then tapering off. It was an effective performance.
The second piece was Erich Korngold’s Violin Concerto. I’ve listened to this piece for years, but have never heard it in concert. It did not disappoint. Korngold has an ability to surprise you with unexpected moments of beauty that take your breath away. The opening movement of his Violin Concerto is full of such moments.
Video:
Korngold: Violin Concerto
Violinist Geneva Lewis, also of New Zealand origin, played with exquisite accuracy. Her tone wasn’t overpowering, but I heard every note of the solo part. That might not have been the case before the renovations to the concert hall, but it is the case now. Credit must also go to Maestro New and the orchestra for willingly supporting the solo line without overpowering it. Credit can also go to Korngold himself for the brilliance of his orchestration.
After hearing this performance, it is clear that there are three composers who stand above all others in terms of orchestration. They are Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Maurice Ravel, and Korngold.
The concert concluded with Mendelssohn’s evergreen Symphony No. 4, “Italian." The opening of this symphony is iconic. Mendelssohn propels the music forward from the get-go. I must admit that the piece doesn't sound particularly Italian to my ear, but the outer movements are fantastic nonetheless. The inner movements have never done much for me. Still, the performance was convincing — except for a flaw in the horn section.
The San Diego Symphony Orchestra will now turn its attention to Pagliacci at San Diego Opera, and will return to The Jacobs Masterworks Series on Friday, November 7, with Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4.
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