Felix Mendelssohn - Symphony No. 3 'Scottish'; The Hebrides (Alexis Kossenko)

Information

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

• Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, MWV N 18 "Scottish" (London Version, 1842)
• The Hebrides, MWV P 7 "Fingal's Cave" (Rome Version, 1830)

Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie

Alexis Kossenko, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Aparté

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For the second volume of their complete Mendelssohn symphonic cycle, Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie present two works inspired by the composer’s 1829 journey to the British Isles and his visit to Fingal’s Cave. This recording features the original, lesser-known versions of these compositions rather than the later revisions that entered the standard repertoire. By performing and recording these early versions for the first time on period instruments, the ensemble offers fresh insight into Mendelssohn’s initial orchestral conception, highlighting distinctive colors and textures that illuminate the creative impact of his travels.

Alexis Kossenko (born 1977) is a French flautist, conductor, and musicologist trained in Paris and Amsterdam. Renowned for his work in historically informed performance, he has collaborated with leading European period-instrument ensembles as both soloist and conductor. In 2010 he founded Les Ambassadeurs, later converged with La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy, of which he became music director in 2020. Under his leadership, the combined ensemble has gained international recognition, notably for its award-winning 2022 recording of Rameau’s Zoroastre, praised for its artistic excellence and scholarship.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz