The “Sonntagsmusiken” (Sundays Musicales) hosted by Fanny Hensel in the Mendelssohn family’s garden hall in Berlin were legendary and famous far beyond the city boundaries. This is where her composition and those of her brother Felix Mendelssohn were played. Operas were performed, directed and conducted by her, and works by her contemporaries were presented. She was considered one of the best pianists of her time, and people came from afar to hear her play.

We would like to celebrate such a musical salon in her honour. One of her most beautiful compositions – her piano trio in d minor – will be performed twice in this context. We invited two young ensembles who have already been honoured with several awards, and asked them to put this wonderful composition in the focus of their programmes. This not only gives audiences an exciting chance to compare their interpretations, the trios will also combine and comment Fanny Hensel’s work in very different ways.

You may book each concert individually with or without the accompanying culinary option or indulge yourself with the overall package and book a day ticket including the culinary option.

3 p.m. »…with obligatory accompaniment by nightingales and lilac flowers«

Ossian’s Dream playing piano trios by Fanny Hensel & Mozart

Claudia Reyes Segovia, historical clarinets · Jaume Guri Batlle, violin · Anne-Sophie van Riel, viola, Martin Egidi, violoncello · Pau Fernández Benlloch, fortepiano

Ossian’s Dream have had a very thorough look at the Sunday musical events in the Mendelssohn-Hensel household, and in their programme they give an impression of what these Sunday events might have been like when they were organised in Berlin almost 200 years ago. An entertaining concert with exciting music.

4:30 p.m. A culinary intermezzo: Apéro and fingerfood

6 p.m. An evening with Fanny, Sebastian, Ludwig and Felix
Trio Alterna playing Fanny Hensel’s piano trio in d minor and Beethoven’s “Gassenhauer” trio
Anna Dmitrieva, violine · Amarilis Dueñas Castán, violoncello · Takahiko Sakamaki, fortepiano

On 16 June 1830 Fanny Hensel gave birth to her only child, Sebastian Ludwig Felix Hensel. This choice of names honours three composers who were particularly close to her heart: Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven and her brother Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. This moderated concert is dedicated to Fanny Hensel and her son.

The three outstanding musicians of the award-winning Trio Alterna will play historical instroments and thus recreate an authentic feeling for Fanny Hensel’s times.

7:30 p.m. A culinary coda: fine little morsels after grand sounds

Concert I

Concert II

The Basle ensemble Ossian’s Dream in their programme convey a lively impression of the legendary »Sonntagsmusiken«, the Sunday musical events organised by Fanny Hensel in the garden hall of the Mendelssohn family’s stately home. Numerous illustrious guests from Berlin aristocracy gathered here for these private concerts, joined by artists, poets, music lovers and musicians passing through Berlin. In summer, Fanny Hensel opened the doors to the garden, at the same time providing space for large audiences and inviting the scents and natural sounds to merge with the performances.  Afterwards, visitors dined together and lively conversations were held. We are looking forward to this very special re-enactment of an imaginary matiné in the Mendelssohn-Hensel household.

Claudia Reyes Segovia, historical clarinets · Jaume Guri Batlle, violin · Anne-Sophie van Riel, viola, Martin Egidi, violoncello · Pau Fernández Benlloch, fortepiano

On 16 June 1830 Fanny Hensel gave birth to her only child, Sebastian Ludwig Felix Hensel. This choice of names honours three composers who were particularly close to her heart: Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven and her brother Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. This moderated concert is dedicated to Fanny Hensel and her son.
The three outstanding musicians of the award-winning Trio Alterna will play historical instroments and thus recreate an authentic feeling for Fanny Hensel’s times.

From the application video

The lieder by Fanny Hensel are among the most outstanding compositions of their time. In the last concert of our Fanny Hensel series they will be performed in a dialogue with works by artists who were close to Fanny Hensel.  What is particularly charming: they will be accompanied by a Romantic guitar, a typical instrument for accompaniments in that time, which was mainly played by women.

Maria Ladurner, a soprano who is much in demand internationally, is a high-profile specialist for Early Music and historically informed performance practices. Awards for her CD recordings include the Opus Klassik (2021) and the Diapson d’or. She made guest appearances at the Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci, at the Konzerthaus Wien, at the Berliner Philharmonie, at the Mozartwoche Salzburg and at the Händelfestspiele Göttingen. Her duo partner, Elias Conrad, was honoured with many awards in national and international competitions and has appeared in concerts with renowned conductors such as  René Jacobs, Andrea Marcon and Raphaël Pichon.

From the application video