Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
with Roger Coull , David Curtis , Philip Gallaway , John Todd
2. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
with Roger Coull , David Curtis , Philip Gallaway , John Todd
3. Pieces (4) for string quartet, Op. 81 No 1, Andante in E major
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
with Roger Coull , David Curtis , Philip Gallaway , John Todd
4. Pieces (4) for string quartet, Op. 81 No 2, Scherzo in A minor
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
with Roger Coull , David Curtis , Philip Gallaway , John Todd
Mendelssohn: String Quartets,John Todd,Felix Mendelssohn,David Curtis,Philip Gallaway,Roger Coull,Hyperion,Chamber,Chamber Music & Recitals,Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music,Quartet for Four String Instruments
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Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet
Felix Mendelssohn , and Emerson String Quartet Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0006TN9G2 Release Date: 2005-01-11 |
Tracks:
- I. Adagio - Allegro Vivace
- II. Adagio Non Lento
- III. Intermezzo: Allegretto Con Moto
- IV. Presto
- A Tempo Ordinario
- I. Adaigo Non Troppo - Allegro Non Tardante
- II. Canzonetta: Allegretto
- III. Andante Espressivo
- IV. Molto Allegro E Vivace
Tracks:
- I. Allegro Assai Appassionato
- II. Scherzo: Allegro Di Molto
- III. Andante
- IV. Presto Agitato
- I. Allegro Vivace
- II. Scherzo: Assai Leggiero Vivace
- III. Adagio Non Troppo
- IV. Molto Allegro Con Fuoco
Tracks:
- I. Molto Allegro Vivace
- II. Menuetto: Un Poco Allegretto
- III. Andante Espressivo Ma Con Moto
- IV. Presto Con Brio
- Andante con Moto - Allegro Fugato, Assai Vivace
- I. Allegro Vivace Assai
- II. Allegro Assai
- III. Adagio
- IV. Finale: Allegro Molto
- Andante Sostenuto
- Allegro Leggiero
Tracks:
- I. Allegro Moderato, Ma Con Fuoco
- II. Andante
- III. Scherzo: Allegro Leggierissimo
- IV. Presto
- I. Allegro Moderato
- II. Adagio Non Troppo
- III. Minuetto
- IV. Fuga
Amazon.com
Trust the Emerson Quartet to do nothing by halves. This 4-CD set presents all of Mendelssohn's quartets, including one written at 14, the five pieces Op. 81, as well as the Octet. This set should disprove the assertion that Mendelssohn, a sensational prodigy, blossomed young and never developed further. The difference in compositional skill and emotional depth between the early and late quartets is unmistakable; the miracle is that he could write the Octet at 16. The quartets are of uneven quality: Op. 44 No. 3 is distinctly inferior to the more-familiar Nos. 1 and 2; of the two Fugues Op. 81, the later one is far better. The quartets Op. 12 and 13 (written in reverse order) pay homage to Beethoven in Mendelssohn's very own romantic voice. Op. 80 is masterful although perhaps less disciplined: written just after his beloved sister Fanny's death and shortly before his own, it is a turbulent, heart-rending outcry of anguish. Some of the most-magical moments occur in the inimitable Scherzi and Intermezzi. The performances are vintage Emerson: impeccable individually and together, beautiful in sound, clear, carefully worked out. Although generally a little cool, they can rise to considerable warmth and passion. Not surprisingly, the best pieces elicit the most involved, exciting playing. As always, the violinists switch parts, but the whole group also alternates old Italian and modern American instruments, for the players have a surprise in store: they give the Octet a new twist by "doubling" on all eight parts through a complicated process of over-dubbing (a documentary video of the recording process is included). Here, using the different instruments is intended to combine the old and the new and to give the voices more-distinct timbres. However, the differences throughout are imperceptible. The idea of playing the Octet with themselves, so to speak, is intriguing, but the result is disappointing. Hearing four rather than eight individual voices is disconcerting, and worse, the balance is completely awry, especially in the corner movements. The busy tremolo accompaniment makes the middle register thick and heavy, the tone gets rough, important lines are obscured, and the Quartet's customary admirable textural transparency is lost. And even a cellist as splendid as David Finckel cannot save the opening of the Fugue from sounding like a growl. This may be a triumph of recording technology, but it adds nothing to the music or the performance. --Edith EislerCustomer Reviews:
First Rate Performances.......2006-09-18
Fantastic.......2006-07-01
In the privacy of my living room, on several occasions I stood up and cheered! Absolutely magnificent. Enough said.
Highly recommended.
Beautiful Performances.......2005-09-10
Naturally, the early quartets (written in 1827 and 1829 but published in reverse order in 1830) reflect the influence of other composers, most notably Beethoven. The movements of these quartets were linked by thematic ideas. The quartet in A minor uses Mendelssohn's song Frage (Question) as the musical link. The quartet in E-Flat (Op. 12) was composed during Mendelssohn's trip to the British Isles, which also inspired his Scottish Symphony and Hebrides Overture.
When Mendelssohn next turned to the form he was the director of the Gewandhaus and a famous composer. The composition of the three quartets Op. 44 (number 3, 4 and 5) occurred after his marriage to Cecile Jeanrenaud in 1837 and were composed during his two month long honeymoon. These quartets reflect the composer's maturity and accessible style. The sixth quartet was published after Mendelssohn's death and was written following the sudden death of his sister Fanny in May 1847. It follows that the quartet is darker than the others and is agitated and dissonant in tone; the first movement begins with dark tones from the cello then proceeds with a beautiful melody punctuated with tremolos. The scherzo is characterized by an unusual tempo that has a frantic quality to it. The Adagio allows Mendelssohn to fully express his grief and the Finale has the syncopated rhythm of the scherzo.
The five pieces collected as Op. 81 contain what probably are two movements for an unfinished quartet - a Theme and Variations in E major and Scherzo in A minor. It was reported by the composer Ignaz Moschelles that Mendelssohn was at work on a new string quartet before his death and of these two pieces the Theme and Variations is closest to the description of the work. The earliest of Mendelssohn's quartets appears last on the CDs and is a pleasant work written under the influence of Mozart and Haydn.
The Octet receives a marvelous performance with the Emerson playing all of the parts with each member playing different instruments and seated in different positions during the recording sessions.
The performances are impeccable with beautiful and clear sound. I purchased the set anticipating a performance of three of the quartets by the Emerson. As I have listened to the set the warmth and sensitivity of the playing makes this the Mendelssohn quartets to own. I have only become interested in chamber music in recent years and Mendelssohn was a natural choice for me because of his gift of melody. I think this music would appeal to someone getting to know chamber music.
LIKE WATER FROM A PUBLIC FOUNTAIN.......2005-05-12
The performers are the Emerson Quartet, and the quality of their work is well known. In every imaginable respect it is superlatively good. Technically these accounts are flawless, and in terms of comprehension of the music and insight into the spirit of the composer I prefer to learn from them rather than to pass otiose comment. There are 7 complete quartets here, plus 5 isolated movements. Being moderately familiar with the music I would advise newcomers that the approach taken throughout is `normal' in the best sense and free from idiosyncrasies - if you are looking for `model' performances of these works this would be where to look. Mendelssohn's tempo markings, unlike those of greater composers such as Beethoven Schubert and Brahms, are almost invariably clear and unambiguous. In the one case where a bit of interpretation is called for, the central two movements of the D major quartet op44/1, I am convinced and delighted by the solution adopted. The Emersons take the minuet slowly and the following `andante con moto' at a very flowing pace, almost like an andante in Handel, so that the minuet seems like the slow movement and the andante like an intermezzo in moderate tempo.
I love Mendelssohn and I love these quartets. However I can't get it out of my mind that Wagner had a bit of a point. Shaw complains of Mendelssohn's `kid-glove gentility' and he is uncomfortably near the bone. Mendelssohn is truly unique, and what he does best he does better than anybody. At the age of 16 or 17 he turned out the octet, the rondo capriccioso for piano and the Midsummer Night's Dream overture, all of them truly astounding. However by age 20 he was only one precocious prodigy among a larger number who had caught up by then and went on to surpass him. There is a definite sense of development as between the quartet he wrote at age 14 (contemporary with the string symphonies, which I commend strongly to those unfamiliar with them) where the unmistakable personal idiom has not yet quite emerged and the op12/13 quartets and then the op44's and later in which it has. However it's development within a narrow range of expression, and his early death means we can never know whether he had it in him to raise his game drastically, as Wagner and Verdi so spectacularly did when older than Mendelssohn lived to be.
The Emersons have also taken it into their heads to record the octet played by themselves only. People with their amount of talent must be tempted to such brilliant but completely dotty schemes at times. There is an enthusiastic contribution to the liner-note by Eugene Drucker, and the disc will run on a pc to show the process of recording. I can confirm that it actually does this, but I have no sound-card nor any wish for one, so all I can attest is the visual aspect, and only a little of that. I must also warn that I had difficulty in getting the exit-button to obey me. As a performance it is really very good, with the finale fully up to speed as I like it, and I would never have known what nonsense they were getting up to. However something goes wrong with the recording, which is very bottom-heavy in the first movement in particular.
Otherwise the recording is excellent. The main liner-note is fine if a little lengthy. When I began to think it didn't really say a lot, that brought me back to the question - how much, really, is there to say?
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Mendelssohn: String Quartets, Vol. 1
Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000013ZF Release Date: 1994-10-04 |
Tracks:
- String Quarter No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80: Allegro assai - Presto
- String Quarter No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80: Allegro assai
- String Quarter No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80: Adagio
- String Quarter No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80: Finale: Allegro molto
- String Quarter No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44: Molto allegro vivace
- String Quarter No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44: Menuetto: Un poco Allegro
- String Quarter No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44: Andante expressivo ma con moto
- String Quarter No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44: Presto con brio
- Capriccio in E Minor, Op. 81 No. 3: Andante con moto - Allegro fugato, assai vivace
- Fugue in E Flat Major, Op. 81 No. 4: A tempo ordinario
Amazon.com
If you believe the Schwann Opus catalog--I don't!--this disc is the only survivor of a set of three containing Mendelssohn's complete string quartets. His quartets, like much of his music, aren't nearly as well known as they deserve to be. The Quartet in D, a substantial piece, reflects Mendelssohn's typical sunny personal and musical disposition. But his final quartet, written during the brief period between his sister's death and his own, is as starkly tragic a piece as anyone of the era composed. These performances, by members of the San Francisco Symphony, are among the best Mendelssohn ever recorded. The disc is a spectacular bargain. --Leslie GerberCustomer Reviews:
Fantastic recording of one of the greatest quartests written.......2007-01-10
I could listen to the quartet in F minor and the capriccio in E minor on repeat for days... and admittedly have done so on multiple occasions.
Fire-breathing dragon in F minor.......2007-01-02
great and speedy service.......2006-08-23
Excellent version.......2005-02-03
First-rate at a cut-rate price........2004-01-14
For those who don't know the Op. 80 quartet, you're in for a surprise. This is anguished music full of as much dissonance and rhythmic upheaval as the period would allow (especially the suspensions in the development of the first movement). I don't know of a piece of music more deserving of discovery, yet I've never seen it on a quartet program. One could claim to hear bits of Schubert's Quartettsatz or Beethoven's "Tragic", but this work is Mendelssohn's own, written during a period of great personal loss. For once, he has jettisoned decorum.
With this recording, Naxos is throwing diamonds at us.
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Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets / Pacifica Quartet
Felix Mendelssohn , and Pacifica Quartet Manufacturer: Cedille ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00082ZSIY Release Date: 2005-04-26 |
Album Description
One of today's most dynamic and exciting ensembles, the Pacifica Quartet celebrates its 10th anniversary with a three-CD set of Mendelssohn's complete string quartet cycle. Known for its "stunningly expressive performances" (The Guardian) and "ideal balance" (Washington Post), the youthful Pacifica is a perfect match for this early Romantic composer's exuberant chamber music.Customer Reviews:
Be Certain to Preview Before Buying.......2006-02-24
To sum up my impression of this CD, while they are very competent performances, they are far from excellent in my opinion. Perhaps it is just me, but I can swear the first violinist is SLIGHTLY off pitch in certain moments, noticeably the second movement in Op. 80. I am not fond of her technique either. She at times "feels" for the notes, rather than immediately hitting them right away, producing a glissando effect where none is called for. To me they draw attention to themselves performing the pieces. In other words, I can hear them in the process, not just the music itself being itself, which is overall the good mark of an excellent recording. This might be their youth, and I see this ensemble perhaps being one of the great ones down the road.
In sum, don't go by my word, or all the over-positive hype either. Listen to this recording before you purchase it. If you can't, then I personally would stick with the Talich Quartet's version (which Classics Today rightly praised), or for an older analogue version, the Melos Quartet on DG.
Young Contenders.......2005-08-03
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Mendelssohn: String Quartets, Vol. 2
Felix Mendelssohn , and Aurora String Quartet Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000013ZG Release Date: 1994-06-28 |
Tracks:
- String Quartet No. 1 In E Flat Major, Op. 12: Adagio non troppo - Allegro non tardante
- String Quartet No. 1 In E Flat Major, Op. 12: Canzonetta: Allegretto - Piu mosso
- String Quartet No. 1 In E Flat Major, Op. 12: Andante espressivo - attacca
- String Quartet No. 1 In E Flat Major, Op. 12: Molto allegro e vivace
- String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 44, No. 2: Allegro assai appassionato
- String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 44, No. 2: Scherzo: Allegro di molto
- String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 44, No. 2: Andante - attacca
- String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 44, No. 2: Presto agitato
- String Quartet In E Flat Major: Allegro moderato
- String Quartet In E Flat Major: Adagio non troppo
- String Quartet In E Flat Major: Minuetto - Trio - Minuetto
- String Quartet In E Flat Major: Fuga
Amazon.com
Play Mendelssohn's Quartet in E Flat for a music-loving friend, epecially the fugal finale, and ask him or her to guess the composer's age. This is another of those amazing products of Mendelssohn's early adolescence, written when the composer was 14. It's hardly ever performed and not often recorded, and it may not be the equal of Mendelssohn's mature Quartets. But it's a substantial piece and holds your interest, especially in the alert, charming performance on this disc. The two later Quartets are played equally well. This is a generously programmed (72-minute) CD, full of fine music in satisfying performances, and vividly recorded. --Leslie GerberCustomer Reviews:
Superb Set of Three .......2007-04-18
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Mendelssohn: String Quartets Op.44 1-2 & Op.81
Henschel Quartet Manufacturer: Arte Nova Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000BO0KUU Release Date: 2005-11-08 |
Tracks:
- I. Molto Allegro Vivace
- II. Menuetto: Un Poco Allegretto
- III. Andante Espressivo Con Moto
- IV. Presto Con Brio
- I. Allegro Assai Appassionato
- II. Scherzo: Allegro Di Molto
- III. Andante
- IV. Presto Agitato
- Andante Sostenuto. Un Poco Piu Animato. Presto. Andante Coma Prima
- Allegro Leggiero
- A Tempo Ordinario
- Andante Con Moto. Allegro Fugato, Fugato, Assai Vivace
Album Description
"The Henschel Quartet is a strong, well-unified group; its ardent, robust approach suits Mendelssohn if you think Mendelssohn is rather bland and well mannered, try this!" - GRAMOPHONEA total of eight works by Mendelssohn have come down to us which can be ascribed to the genre of the string quartet. Already in his first proper quartets we can see that the young composer was not only building on the classical models of Haydn and Mozart, but had also made an intensive and creative study of Beethoven's late quartet works. The Henschel Quartet have been awarded a number of prizes for their interpretations, e.g. for their much-recognized recording of Ginastera string quartets for Arte Nova. The quartet performs regularly in prestigious chamber music cycles worldwide and is a guest at numerous renowned music festivals. The Henschel Quartet has won numerous prizes since 1995, and their highly acclaimed stand-in for the Juilliard Quartet in London's Wigmore Hall, broadcasted by the BBC, led to international recognition as one of today's finest chamber ensembles.
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Mendelssohn: String Quartets Nos. 5 & 6
Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0005EZWU4 Release Date: 2005-01-11 |
Tracks:
- I. Allegro Vivace
- II. Scherzo (Assai Leggiero Vivace)
- III. Adagio Non Troppo
- IV. Molto Allegro Con Fuoco
- I. Allegro Assai - Presto
- II. Allegro Assai
- III. Adagio
- IV. Finale (Allegro Molto)
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Mendelssohn: Piano Quartets Nos. 2 and 3
Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000141D Release Date: 1994-11-15 |
Tracks:
- Allegro Molto
- Adagio
- Intermezzo: Allegro moderato
- Allegro Molto Vivace
- Allegro Molto
- Andante
- Allegro Molto
- Allegro Vivace
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Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: String Quartets
Manufacturer: Cpo Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000042OEA Release Date: 2000-01-25 |
Tracks:
- Str Qt in E flat: Adagio Ma Non Troppo
- Str Qt in E flat: Allegretto
- Str Qt in E flat: Romanze
- Str Qt in E flat: Allegro Molto Vivace
- Str Qt Op.14 in g: Allegro Appassionato
- Str Qt Op.14 in g: Scherzo. Allegro Assai
- Str Qt Op.14 in g: Adagio Con Molta Espressione
- Str Qt Op.14 in g: Finale. Allegro Molto
- Qt No.2 in B flat: Andantino
- Qt No.2 in B flat: Allegro
- Qt No.3 in g: Tempo Giusto
- Qt No.3 in g: Allegro
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Brahms, Mendelssohn: Piano Quartets
Manufacturer: Asv Living Era ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000IY0FY4 Release Date: 2007-01-30 |
Tracks:
- I. Allegro Molto
- II. Adagio
- III. Intermezzo (Allegro Moderato)
- IV. Finale. Allegro Molto Vivace
- I. Allegro
- II. Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
- III. Andante Con Moto
- IV. Rondo Alla Zingarese. Presto
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Brahms, mendelssohn: Piano Quartets
Manufacturer: Asv Living Era ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000IY01A2 Release Date: 2007-01-30 |
Tracks:
- I: Allegro Molto
- II: Andante
- III: Allegro Molto
- IV: Allegro Vivace
- I: Allegro Non Troppo
- II: Scherzo, Allegro
- III: Andante
- IV: Finale. Allegro Comodo
Music Review:
- Mendelssohn: Veni Domine
- Mozart: Flute Concerto: Flute and Harp Concerto; Andante in C
- Mozart: Piano Music
- Mozart: Symphonies Nos.6, 8 and 38 "Prager"
- Mozart:The Wind Concertos
- Mr. Henry Purcell's Most Admirable Composures
- Mundy: Cathedral Music
- My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord
- Organ Sonata 19 / 12 Monologues (V.4)
- Organ Sonatas 2 & 18 (V.1)
Music Review
Cage: The City Wears a Slouch Hat/Fads & Fancies in the Academy/A Chant with Claps