Felix Mendelssohn
(1809-1847)

Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 “Italian” 

Composed 1833, revised 1834

In 1830, Felix Mendelssohn set off on a grand tour of Europe, encouraged by his family and the poet Goethe to experience firsthand the cultural richness of the continent. After exploring Scotland and England, he made his way to Italy, arriving in Venice in October. Over the next 10 months, Mendelssohn soaked in the beauty of Florence, Rome, Naples, and the surrounding countryside. These experiences would ultimately inspire his "Italian" Symphony, which he described in a letter to his sister Fanny as “the jolliest piece I have ever written.”

Completed in 1833 for the Philharmonic Society of London, the Symphony is a vivid impression of Mendelssohn’s Italian journey. Though not strictly programmatic, the work captures the composer’s joyful response to Italian sunshine, art, and landscapes, with the most overt cultural reference appearing in the finale. Mendelssohn conducted the premiere himself to enthusiastic acclaim, yet he remained dissatisfied with the piece, revising it several times before his death. The version we hear today was published posthumously in 1851 and remains one of his most frequently performed orchestral works.

The Allegro vivace opens with jubilant, bouncing rhythms and transparent textures, evoking the brilliant clarity of the Italian sky. Woodwinds and pizzicato strings play a major role, with lively themes unfolding in a sonata form that includes subtle innovations and unexpected transitions.

The second movement, Andante con moto, presents a somber yet lyrical procession, likely inspired by religious parades Mendelssohn observed in Naples. A chant-like theme in the woodwinds and violas moves steadily over a walking bass line. 

A flowing Con moto moderato follows, reminiscent of a gentle minuet. Its elegant contours and graceful trio section conjure images of classical architecture and the refined beauty of Renaissance Italy.

The finale, Presto, is a whirlwind saltarello—a fiery, leaping folk dance. Energetic from start to finish, it drives the symphony to an exuberant, exhilarating close, bursting with brilliance and vitality. Mendelssohn’s ability to blend Classical structure with Romantic color makes this symphony a vivid musical postcard of his Italian adventure.

Instrumentation – two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings

Duration – 27 minutes

~ Kenneth Bean
Georg and Joyce Albers-Schonberg Assistant Conductor
Princeton Symphony Orchestra