- Audio CD (17 Nov 1992)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Sony
- ASIN: B0000027YZ
- Other Editions: Audio CD
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 438,810 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Es Dur-En Mi Bemol Majeur-In Mi Bemolle Maggiore: Allegro Moderato, Ma Con Fuoco |
| 2. Es Dur-En Mi Bemol Majeur-In Mi Bemolle Maggiore: Andante |
| 3. Es Dur-En Mi Bemol Majeur-In Mi Bemolle Maggiore: Scherzo Allegro Leggierissimo |
| 4. Es Dur-En Mi Bemol Majeur-In Mi Bemolle Maggiore: Presto |
| 5. F-Dur-En Fa Majeur-In Fa Maggiore: Allegro Molto E Con Fuoco |
| 6. F-Dur-En Fa Majeur-In Fa Maggiore: Andantino Quasi Allegretto |
| 7. F-Dur-En Fa Majeur-In Fa Maggiore: Scherzo Allegro Moderato E Tranquillo |
| 8. F-Dur-En Fa Majeur-In Fa Maggiore: Finale Allegro Vivace |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
An old cliché perhaps, but Mendelssohn did produce much of his best music in his teenage years. And they don't come much better then his Octet for strings (1825), written when he was just 16. Its not just the range of emotion that impress, but the virtuoso writing for the instruments themselves; the way they combine singly or in groups within the ensemble. Energy and expressiveness go hand in hand in the opening movement, followed by the nostalgic charm of its successor. The featherweight scherzo is the first example in Mendelssohn's output of a form he made entirely his own, while an exhilarating fugal finale caps the work in powerful fashion. The Archibudelli/Smithsonian performance uses an authentic playing style to project the music with intensity, but also welcome lightness of touch. The Octet by Niels Gade makes a unusual but apt coupling: enjoyable in its easy mastery of string writing, if lacking the sheer personality of Mendelssohn's youthful masterpiece. Another persuasive performance, and a disc that will give lasting pleasure. --Richard Whitehouse
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4 reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
The more the merrier
18 July 2002
Format:Audio CD
The string octet is one of the largest no-conductor forms of chamber music, and the Mendelssohn is the indisputed king of the genre (other entries include Shostakovitch, Enesco, and the so-called double quartets of Spohr and Laderman). This recording, by the performance practice group L'Archibudelli, is a worthy addition to anyone's discography; the balances are great (even when the melody is fighting against 6 or 7 other voices) and the energy, especially in the take-no-prisoners fourth movement, is palpable. Oh, and don't forget the "sempre pianissimo" scherzo, no easy task with eight instruments.
It's paired with a work by Niels Gade, which I had never heard before buying this disc. You know what - it's actually quite a worthy piece, and I immediately scrounged it out of the library and brought it to our next sight-reading party. It passed the "this is neat, let's keep going" test there, and the slow movement is especially worthy of note here. With a fresh reading of an old favorite and a new work to discover, you could do a lot worse than this recording.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Mendelssohn Octet Renewed!
15 Jun 2000
Format:Audio CD
This version of the Mendelssohn Octet is one of the best I have heard in ages. The climaxes, innuendos, and nuances are in polished and exhualted shape. The Smithsonian Chamber musicians themselves sound and feel the music in a united sense!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Flawless
12 Jun 2004
Format:Audio CD
This is a brilliant performance by the L'Archibudelli and Smithsonian Chamber Players of Mendelssohn's Octet. All eight performers use 17th and 18th century Stradivari instruments (borrowed from the Smithsonian, Library of Congress and private collections); their rendition is warm, polished and virtually flawless. One of my very favorite CDs.
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