Dukas with Elizabeth Chang, Gonzalo Hidalgo, and more

Felix Mendelssohn was a celebrated German composer, pianist, musical conductor, and teacher of the early Romantic period. Born into a prominent family in Hamburg in 1809, he was recognized as an extraordinary musical prodigy from childhood, composing masterpieces like the Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream by age seventeen. He played a central role in reviving interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, famously conducting the St. Matthew Passion in 1829, and went on to serve as the Music Director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig and founder of the Leipzig Conservatory. His acclaimed compositions, including the Italian and Scottish Symphonies, the Violin Concerto, and the oratorio Elijah, famously blend Classical structure with Romantic expression.

Antonín Dvořák, a celebrated Czech composer, was born in Nelahozeves, Bohemia. A master of the Romantic era, he infused his attractive melodies and brilliant orchestrations with Bohemian folk influences, later incorporating American elements. He is renowned for works like his Symphony No. 9 "From the New World," Cello Concerto, Slavonic Dances, and the opera Rusalka. Johannes Brahms supported his early career. Dvořák is celebrated for popularizing Slavic music and his versatile compositional style.