For Shakespeare’s birthday back in April, I made available the Scherzo from Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream music, in a 1911 recording conducted by Landon Ronald. To complement this, I’ve now transferred the Ronald’s early recordings of the Overture, Nocturne and Wedding March, together with his later electrically recorded version of the Nocturne. I’ve included the Scherzo in this post so the whole set can play continuously. As a bonus, at the end I’ve included the Ronald’s recording of the overture to Nicolai’s Merry Wives of Windsor, which was coupled with the Midsummer Night’s Dream overture.
Ronald recorded the Mendelssohn works several times.
New Symphony Orchestra:
7th October 1911 – A Midsummer Night‘s Dream: Scherzo (Mendelssohn)
ac5549f (unissued)
ac5550f 0681 (020617, 030617, 060562, D152)
10th February 1912 – A Midsummer Night‘s Dream: Wedding march (Mendelssohn)
ac6007f (unissued)
ac6008f 0755 (030627, 040737, 2-050521, 2-0250599, D166, S4190, W74, ES123)
17th February 1912 – A Midsummer Night‘s Dream: Nocturne (Mendelssohn)
ac6035f (unissued)
ac6036f 0756 (030628, 040738, D152, ES123)
3rd February 1913 – A Midsummer Night‘s Dream: Overture (Mendelssohn)
HO450ai 0853 (020747, 060601, D153, AB102)
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra:
13th March 1923 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Wedding March (Mendelssohn)
Cc 2695-1 (unissued)
Cc 2695-2 0755X (D166, 2-050521X, 2-0250599X, S4190)
23rd June 1923 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream Op 61: Scherzo (Mendelssohn)
Cc 3145-1 (unissued)
Cc 3145-2 0681X (D152)
27th July 1925 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Nocturne (Mendelssohn), pt 1
Cc 6411-1 (unissued)
Cc 6411-2 (unissued)
27th July 1925 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Nocturne (Mendelssohn), pt 2
Cc 6412-1 (unissued)
Cc 6412-2 4-0733 (D1034, AB169)
27th July 1925 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Scherzo (Mendelssohn)
Cc 6413-1 4-0836 (D1097, W918, AB198, ES26)
9th September 1925 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Nocturne (Mendelssohn), pt 1
Cc 6411-3,-4 (unissued)
Cc 6411-5 4-0732 (D1034, AB169)
18th November 1925 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mendelssohn), pt 1
Cc 7310-1 (unissued)
Cc 7310-2 (assigned 4-0858, but unissued)
18th November 1925 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mendelssohn), pt 2
Cc 7311-1 (unissued)
Cc 7311-2 (assigned 4-0852, but unissued)
Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Overture – New Symphony Orchestra, Landon Ronald
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
His Master’s Voice D153 (side 0853)
Matrix HO 450ai
Recorded 3rd February 1913, Hayes
The following cuts are made: bb 142 – 157, 196(4) – 517(3), 566 – 585, 620 – end. (inclusive)
Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Scherzo – New Symphony Orchestra, Landon Ronald
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
His Master’s Voice 0681
Matrix ac5550f
Recorded 7th October 1911, London
Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Nocturne – New Symphony Orchestra, Landon Ronald
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
His Master’s Voice 0756
Matrix ac6036f
Recorded 17th February 1912, London
The following cuts are made: bb16-33, 38-41, 73-80, 109-112
Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Wedding March – New Symphony Orchestra, Landon Ronald
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
His Master’s Voice 0755
Matrix ac6008f
Recorded 10th February 1912, London
Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Nocturne – Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Landon Ronald
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Aubrey Brain, horn
His Master’s Voice D 1034 (sides 4-0732/3)
Matrices Cc 6411-5, Cc 6412-2
Recorded 9th September 1925 and 27th July 1925, Hayes
Nicolai – The Merry Wives of Windsor – Overture – New Symphony Orchestra, Landon Ronald
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
His Master’s Voice D153 (side 0735)
Matrix al5934f
Recorded 20th January 1912, Hayes
The recording begins at the Allegro, and several cuts are made.