Georges Enescu

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Here's a work that I am sure some fellow forum members know well - but this was my first encounter with the Enescu Octet here;



What a piece!  And all the more remarkable given that Enescu was in his teens when he wrote this.  Such confidence in the writing and bravura handling of the instruments and the form.  For 1900 the harmony is remarkably free and forward-thinking.  I'm not sue if I can think of a comparable work written at that time.  Excellent performance (the Respighi is interesting too but more explicitly a student work) although the engineering is a bit too up front and fatiguing given the pressure-cooker nature of the music......

Of course, this is an early Enescu work, but shows incredible promise from onset. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope this leads you to discover more of his other works, especially the late works, which are absolutely worth your time. Enescu is much like his teacher in Fauré in that the earlier works show much optimism and a brightness to them, but as the composer ages and time wears on, the music becomes more complex, multi-hued and emotionally introspective. I've always likened Enescu's music to that of music found in a forest village that's been ravaged by some shadow-ladened supernatural force. Haunting, eerie but so beautiful in its own unique way.

I don't know that recording of the Octet, but I highly recommend any of these recordings:

[Roasted Swan]

Of course, this is an early Enescu work, but shows incredible promise from onset. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope this leads you to discover more of his other works, especially the late works, which are absolutely worth your time. Enescu is much like his teacher in Fauré in that the earlier works show much optimism and a brightness to them, but as the composer ages and time wears on, the music becomes more complex, multi-hued and emotionally introspective. I've always likened Enescu's music to that of music found in a forest village that's been ravaged by some shadow-ladened supernatural force. Haunting, eerie but so beautiful in its own unique way.

I don't know that recording of the Octet, but I highly recommend any of these recordings:

Those are stellar/all-star line-ups!