Brother and sister Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn enjoyed a rare bond: they were intimate companions and theirs was one of the most significant musical relationships of the 19th century. They shared and commented on each other-s compositions, each highly appreciative of the other but also offering frank, critical advice.Their travels produced some great music - Felix-s best loved works, the Hebrides Overture and the Scottish Symphony, were inspired by his 1829 visit to Scotland, whilst Fanny-s innovative piano cycle Das Jahr was a musical response to the tour of Italy she made in 1839-40.Combining letters and sketches with an accompanying narrative describing their journeys, this is a wonderful celebration of the two Mendelssohns and a portrait of Scotland and Italy of the time as seen through the eyes of two of the Romantic movement-s most acclaimed composers.
