London Symphony Orchestra/Alain Altinoglu

Mendelssohn’s Symphony No 2 is one of the most glorious and uplifting of all 19th-century orchestral works. The ‘Lobgesang’ or ‘Hymn of Praise’, a ‘symphony cantata’ featuring a lyrical and beautiful Sinfonia, dreamy arias and rousing choruses, was first performed in 1840 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Gutenburg’s printing press.