Symphony No. 2 in B‑Flat Major

Mendelssohn’s published symphonies bear little resemblance to their order of composition. The one written in 1840, marking the 400th anniversary of Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of movable typeface, appeared as Hymn of Praise and was only designated No. 2 after his death. It opens with a “Sinfonia” of three relatively brief orchestral movements: a lively “Allegro” with an imposing “Maestoso” introduction, a deftly scored yet agitated “Allegretto”, then a wistful “Adagio”, whose “religioso” marking prepares unerringly for what follows. This unfolds in 10 sections, alternating choruses with arias or duets for solo singers (two sopranos and tenor) in the manner of a Baroque cantata. Mendelssohn underlines his Lutheran convictions by the inclusion of the 17th-century chorale “Now thank we all our God” before a closing fugal chorus in which the opening theme is finally brought back in triumph. The Symphony's Leipzig premiere on 25 June 1840, was a huge success, and the work remained popular with choral societies throughout the next century.