In February 2026, I had the pleasure of conducting the first movement of Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A major, the Italian Symphony, with the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The performance took place as part of a concluding concert in the historic Franciscan Church in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, bringing together musicians and audiences in a remarkable setting rich in history and atmosphere.
Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony is a work filled with movement, brightness, and vitality. Inspired by the composer’s travels through Italy, the music carries a sense of energy and forward momentum that feels both joyful and restless. Conducting this repertoire in concert was particularly exciting because of the balance it requires: maintaining rhythmic vitality and clarity while allowing space for elegance and lyricism within the musical line.
Performing with Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra was a deeply rewarding experience. The orchestra brought warmth, responsiveness, and an immediate sense of musical communication to the performance process. In a work such as Mendelssohn’s Fourth Symphony, where momentum and transparency are so central, that sense of shared musical instinct became especially important. Small shifts in articulation, pacing, and gesture could quickly shape the character of the music and create a strong feeling of collective movement.
Beyond the performance itself, what stayed with me most was the atmosphere surrounding the concert. Dubrovnik is a city shaped by layers of history and cultural exchange, and performing there felt particularly meaningful. Music-making in unfamiliar environments often creates a heightened sense of listening and adaptability, and this experience reinforced how performance can become a meeting point between different people, traditions, and musical perspectives. I am grateful to Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra and everyone involved for such a memorable experience, and I look forward to future collaborations and musical encounters ahead.
Performance photos and video excerpts available below.
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