A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture in E Major

Inspired by his reading of Shakespeare’s play, the concert overture A Midsummer Night’s Dream was completed in August 1826 when Mendelssohn was just 17, and its premiere in Stettin on 20 February the following year effectively established his international reputation. The opening woodwind chords, as though intoning the phrase “Es war einmal” (“Once upon a time”), immediately conjure up the magical world this music inhabits. The lively main theme is first heard quietly on upper strings before continuing for the whole orchestra, then a more lyrical melody brings an almost martial climax. The overture’s central span intensively develops motifs from the main theme, winding down to a sombre pause before resuming its speculative course and heading into a reprise of the lyrical melody that continues toward a triumphal peroration. The main theme quietly resumes and is suddenly halted by rapt woodwind that presages a heartfelt response from strings, those magical opening chords returning to have the final word.