Jun Markl with Sirena Huang, Mendelssohn, and more

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was a French composer, a pivotal figure in musical Impressionism. Born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, he revolutionized classical music with evocative harmonies and unique structures. His renowned works include "Clair de lune," "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune," and "La mer." He won the Prix de Rome, leaving an enduring legacy on 20th-century music.

Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, is his last major concerto and one of the most prominent and highly regarded violin concertos in history. Conceived in 1838 as a gift of friendship for his concertmaster Ferdinand David, the work took six years to complete and premiered in Leipzig on March 13, 1845. It is celebrated for its structural innovations, including dropping the traditional orchestral introduction to have the soloist enter almost immediately, placing the cadenza in the middle of the first movement rather than the end, and linking all three movements together without a pause.

Founded in Indianapolis (1930), Indianapolis Symphony plays classical & pops; 200 concerts/350k yearly; 30+ recordings; RCA/Capitol/Naxos; with Hamelin.

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.

Sir Edward William Elgar was an English composer whose works in the orchestral idiom of late 19th-century Romanticism stimulated a renaissance of English music. Largely self-taught, he began his musical career in Worcester as a violinist, conductor, and teacher before gaining widespread recognition. His breakthrough came with the Enigma Variations in 1899, followed by major successes such as the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, the oratorio The Dream of Gerontius, and his elegiac Cello Concerto. Appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1924, Elgar's compositions are celebrated for their bold melodies, vibrant orchestration, and deep emotional resonance, entering the international classical concert repertoire.