Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) - Bicentennial Celebration!

[Maestro267]

I remembered I had a recording of SQnt2 on Brilliant so I listened to it earlier. Very enjoyable work. Liner notes seemed more like a review than programme notes though so they prepared me for disappointment in the last two movements. I disagree fundamentally, The slow movement is gorgeous.

[W.A. Mozart]

Share your feelings and considerations about the oratorio Elias. Do you like the work? How do you rate it?

[vers la flamme]

Share your feelings and considerations about the oratorio Elias. Do you like the work? How do you rate it?

Hasn't clicked with me yet, but I do love Paulus.

[W.A. Mozart]

Hasn't clicked with me yet, but I do love Paulus.

For me it's excellent. I love all orchestral works of Mendelssohn!

[vers la flamme]

it's excellent

No doubt in my mind that's true. Every new work I get into of Mendelssohn's just reinforces my admiration of his consummate artistry and craftsmanship. I just haven't spent as much time with Elias as I have with some of his other works. (Actually I have the English version, Elijah.) I shall do my best to revisit it sometime this week.

[Symphonic Addict]

This new release seems to gather together all of his organ works in 3 CDs.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Recent listen of piano works. Shelley evinces great dexterity. His touch is soft and the tone is silky/smoky. This style may work for some Chopin or Mozart works, but I am not sure it does for Mendelssohn. I found the music somewhat artificial and lacking jazziness, coolness and elegance. Layal is a capable pianist. Her piano is romantic, perfumed music. It was not for me. I found Huve's performance lively and elegant. There are light and shade. Jazzy play. Also he shows a great command. Too bad that the selected works are not my favorite. Still likable recording.

[kyjo]

I was recently struck by the astonishing precociousness of Mendelssohn's Piano Quartets Nos. 2 and 3, composed when he was a mere 13-14 years old:



Even disregarding his age at the time they were written, these are still excellent works in their own right, full of inventiveness and stürm und drang character (they are both in minor keys). The finales of both works are particularly memorable for their headlong energy and harmonic unpredictability. The performances here by the Fauré Quartett really bring out the youthful vigor of these works - a shame that they did not also include the first piano quartet!

[Jo498]

The 1st (op.1 c minor) is very similar in style, IIRC. The Nash or some such ensemble recorded all 3, there's also a Naxos recording that combines the 1st with the sextet (op.110 but also an early work that is a bit more brilliant/concertante and IIRC not as impressive as the piano quartets).

FWIW Beethoven also wrote 3 pretty good piano quartets WoO 36 as a 14 yo.

[Florestan]

I was recently struck by the astonishing precociousness of Mendelssohn's Piano Quartets Nos. 2 and 3, composed when he was a mere 13-14 years old:



Even disregarding his age at the time they were written, these are still excellent works in their own right, full of inventiveness and stürm und drang character (they are both in minor keys). The finales of both works are particularly memorable for their headlong energy and harmonic unpredictability. The performances here by the Fauré Quartett really bring out the youthful vigor of these works - a shame that they did not also include the first piano quartet!

He actually wrote four piano quartets. AFAIK, this is the only truly complete recording:



and a very good one it is. Recommended