Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5, "Reformation": UMD University Orchestra

The UMD University Orchestra concludes its 2025-26 season with Felix Mendelssohn's profound Symphony No. 5, “Reformation,” alongside Gioachino Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville and Camille Saint-Saëns Danse Bacchanale.

Originally composed to celebrate the tercentenary of the Augsburg Confession, a pivotal moment in the Protestant Reformation, Mendelssohn’s Fifth Symphony has earned recognition as one of his most profound orchestral statements. The work draws on a number of older musical traditions and influences, including Gregorian chant and the hymns of Martin Luther. While it was never performed for the occasion, and was not published until 21 years after his death, “Reformation,” stands as a powerful fusion of Mendelssohn's personal expression and spiritual influences.