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Christian Li

Discovering Mendelssohn

Decca Classics
Release Date: July 7, 2023

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1 FELIX MENDELSSOHN: On Wings of Song from 6 Songs Op.34 3.13  
2 FELIX MENDELSSOHN: 2 Rondo capriccioso Op.14 7.24  
3 FRANZ SCHUBERT: 3 Serenade from Schwanengesang D.957 4.40  
4 FELIX MENDELSSOHN: Spring Song from Songs Without Words Op.62 2.29  
5 FELIX MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in E minor Op.64 / I. Allegro molto appassionato  
6 II. Andante 7.47  
7 III. Allegretto non troppo – Allegro molto vivace 6.37  
8 JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Erbarme dich, mein Gott from St Matthew Passion BWV 244 6.42  
9 WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Violin Sonata No.21 in E minor K.304 / I. Allegro 9.28  
10 II. Tempo di Menuetto 6.15  
11 FELIX MENDELSSOHN: Venetian Gondola Song from Songs Without Words Op.62 2.59  
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Decca Classics is thrilled to announce the new album from Australian-Chinese violinist Christian Li. Having topped the UK Classical Charts with his debut album in 2021 (with which he became the youngest artist ever to record Vivaldi’s Four Seasons) the award-winning musician prepares to release his second album, entitled ‘Discovering Mendelssohn’, on 7th July.

Here, Christian Li follows the journeys of Felix Mendelssohn – whose music was influenced by travel throughout his life – by recording pieces the composer wrote in Leipzig, Düsseldorf, Munich, London and Venice, including some brand new arrangements written especially for the violinist.

At the heart of the album is Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, recorded with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) under Sir Andrew Davis, to stunning effect. Talking about the unique cadenza in the first movement Li explains, “I wanted to try and follow what is in the score … I also tried to create mysterious atmospheres, experimenting with dynamic and contour and pacing, to make it sound interesting and more like an improvisation.” Whether it is the intense drama heard in the racing close of the first movement or thoughtfulness in the final Allegretto, there is sensitivity between soloist and ensemble.

  • THE very confident Christian Li records: ' Vivaldi's Four Seasons' / THE CLASSIC REVIEW
    Posted At: October 18, 2021
    THE CLASSIC REVIEW writes….The current catalog, to put it mildly, is not short of versions of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, from period and modern instruments in its original form, to a jazz influenced version from Jacques Loussier, and to Max Richter’s “recomposed” version, if you like this sort of thing. So does a 13 year old prodigy (who also dares to conduct an accompanying ensemble) has anything new to offer...
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