Robert Schumann described his friend Felix Mendelssohn as ‘the first composer of the day’. To Queen Victoria he was ‘the greatest musical genius since Mozart’. In a life lasting just 38 years, Mendelssohn composed a remarkable body of work, from dramatic large-scale symphonies to intimate piano pieces. He remains one of the best-loved early Romantic composers.

Music-making with friends was always dear to Mendelssohn, and he wrote many works to be performed in a domestic environment. This concert commemorates this aspect of his career. At the heart of the programme is his inventive and beautiful Octet: his first masterpiece, written when he was only 16. It received its premiere in 1825 at his family’s Berlin home, with the composer almost certainly participating.

In this ensemble, professional musicians Stefan Jackiw, Jessica Bodner and Sterling Elliott perform alongside five talented students, selected via an open audition process.

The Hub Series is supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown together with Flure Grossart