Mendelssohn - Octet & Piano Sextet - Brilliant Classics: 93991 - download

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Release Date: 28th Sep 2009
Catalogue No: 93991
Label: Brilliant Classics
Length: 64 minutes

Mendelssohn: Piano Sextet Op. 110

Work length31:54

$8.00

$10.30

Dalia Ouziel, Gil Sharon, Ron Ephrat, Liisa Tamminen, Alexander Hülshoff, Jean Sassen

I. Allegro vivace

Track length12:53

$3.00

$3.85

II. Adagio

Track length4:56

$1.00

$1.30

III. Menuetto. Agitato

Track length3:09

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Allegro vivace

Track length10:56

$3.00

$3.85

Mendelssohn: Octet in E flat major, Op. 20

Work length32:11

$7.00

$9.05

Amati String Orchestra

I. Allegro moderato ma con fuoco

Track length14:08

$3.00

$3.85

II. Andante

Track length7:13

$2.00

$2.60

III. Scherzo. Allegro leggierissimo

Track length4:29

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Presto

Track length6:21

$1.00

$1.30

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Mendelssohn was perhaps the most precociously gifted of all composers. As a child prodigy he stands out from other famous examples such as Mozart, Saint-Saëns, and Britten as he reached musical maturity so quickly – probably only Korngold can rival his precocious abilities. The two works on this CD are prime examples. Both were composed in the years 1824/5 when Mendelssohn was in his sixteenth year. The sheer effortlessness of the Octet, its textures, and the seamless way he writes for the 8 players has never been surpassed. Mendelssohn’s inspiration to compose a work for 8 string players was probably inspired by the Double Quartets of Spohr. However, the older composer deliberately wrote for two groups of 4 players, and made little attempt to meld the 8 into an orchestral unit.

The sextet is almost a piano concerto, and the dazzling writing he gives the piano illustrates not only Mendelssohn’s prowess as a virtuoso, but also how well he had studied his older contemporary’s music, especially Hummel and Moscheles.

Mendelssohn - Octet & Piano Sextet

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