Although Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony in A Major ("Italian") was a success upon its 1833 London premiere, the composer later substantially revised it; on this 1999 recording, Oleg Caetani—son of legendary conductor Igor Markevitch—and the Robert Schumann Philharmonie Chemnitz perform this rarely heard revision with notable intensity. Soprano Francine van der Heijden shines here in the world premiere recording of Infelice!/Ah, ritorna, età dell'oro, a dramatic, three-part composition from 1834, likewise inspired by Italy. Another premiere is the strident, Scottish-flavored concert aria On Lena's Gloomy Heath, which features 1989 Maria Callas Competition second prize–winner, baritone Boris Statsenko.