Topic: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) - Bicentennial Celebration!

[Cato]

Greetings Gerd!

Welcome back!

I will need some time to peruse your score: many thanks for sharing it!

[SurprisedByBeauty]

What is the consensus on the Brilliant complete chamber music box?

I'm not aware of any consensus... but looking at the ingredients, it seems to be a very mixed bag, indeed. But Joan Berkhemer and the Trio he's in with Klara Wuertz are second rank but top-notch musicians whom I'd put some faith into giving very musical accounts. But the quartets and quintets, I wouldn't bank on top-notch stuff. But you would have those already in this MUST-MUST-MUST HAVE box, right?!?!  [The Re-Issue]

[Florestan]

What is the consensus on the Brilliant complete chamber music box?

The consensus is just what any other composer's Brilliant complete chamber music box is: a mixed bag but at this price a no-brainer. 

[kyjo]

Much as I enjoy a lot of Mendelssohn’s music, I will admit that it rarely plumbs great emotional depths (which isn’t a bad thing). However, one exception is the powerful slow movement of his String Quintet no. 2, which has a grave, almost Bachian stateliness with its “walking bass” cello line. It rises to a climax of great emotional intensity not often found in Mendelssohn’s output.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Much as I enjoy a lot of Mendelssohn’s music, I will admit that it rarely plumbs great emotional depths (which isn’t a bad thing). However, one exception is the powerful slow movement of his String Quintet no. 2, which has a grave, almost Bachian stateliness with its “walking bass” cello line. It rises to a climax of great emotional intensity not often found in Mendelssohn’s output.

Also the string quartets, esp. the F Minor, which is a heartrending masterpiece the equal of anything ever composed for string quartet.

[kyjo]

Also the string quartets, esp. the F Minor, which is a heartrending masterpiece the equal of anything ever composed for string quartet.

Yes, the F minor quartet is a great work as well. There’s also some poignant moments in his first two quartets.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

I think that St. Paul is AT LEAST as good an oratorio as Elijah - and it has the benefit of not being about an ISIS-style religious fanatic mass murderer.

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