BaL 24.11.18 - Mendelssohn: String Quartet no. 2 in A minor Op.13

[teamsaint]

I'm not one who overly bothers about such things bit for those who don't like spoilers, don't look at the Record Review track listings for tomorrow which already give the building a library results.

Worth putting in a call to your bookie......

[Pulcinella]

Please could Alpie, or another host with the necessary access, change the opus number in the thread title from 23 to 13, as Bryn pointed out in his appropriately numbered post, #13.

[jayne lee wilson]

Those wonderful Leipzigers are my top choice (but then they are in most similar repertoire...MDG Gold- pure gold...!)

[Stanfordian]

I have 3 complete sets of the quartets - the New Zealand Quartet on Naxos and Leipzig Quartet on MDG are both very fine, but I am usually drawn to the excellent Henschel Quartet on Arte Nova when I want to listen to these works.

Henschel for me too. From when three siblings were in the line up.

[kernelbogey]

Please could Alpie, or another host with the necessary access, change the opus number in the thread title from 23 to 13, as Bryn pointed out in his appropriately numbered post, #13.

Done.

[kernelbogey]

I first came across Mendelssohn's Quartets at a concert in a church in South Cornwall, given by a quartet of students from the Prussia Cove International Music School - in September 1988 IIRC - which included the E flat major Opus 44 No3; and also Mozart's Piano Quartet in E flat major, both new to me at the time - and a complete knockout.

I soon afterward recorded the quartet off air onto a tape which I will not be able to find immediately, and so can't name the performers, who are not in Alpie's list (it was likely live). I became mildly obsessed with this work during a very dark time in my life and listened to it repeatedly: I still find it wonderful. I'm listening to the A minor as I write, from the Aurora set on Naxos, which I find excellent. All this supports my contention that Mendelssohn is unjustly neglected and underrated - notably these quartets.

I look forward greatly to this BAL.

[jayne lee wilson]

I wonder if anyone else recalls Hans Keller's 1970s R3 talks on string quartets? (To a student audience, I think...)
There was an especially detailed analysis of Beethoven's OP.130, IIRC a series on the Schoenberg cycle too, and....another close-in analysis of this very Mendelssohn A Minor....

I think the best thing about it for me was, I got to know this Mendelssohn masterpiece closely through the sheer number of excerpts played...it started a lifelong love of (and deep respect for) this composer, at a time when, say, Mahler and Bruckner Symphonies seemed to offer more spectacularly involving experiences.

I almost imagine I can recall the first time I heard that wonderful, cyclical winding-down at the finale's end; the profound inevitability of the 1st Movement introduction's return.
In my end is my beginning...

[pastoralguy]

Do Not look at the Record Review website!

The 'winner' has been announced with all the recommended alternatives!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm not one who overly bothers about such things but for those who don't like spoilers, don't look at the Record Review track listings for tomorrow which already give the building a library results.

Do Not look at the Record Review website!
The 'winner' has been announced with all the recommended alternatives!

It was the Copper wot dunit!

[Barbirollians]

It was the Copper wot dunit!

Perhaps this is all part of the BBC Sounds agenda.

I have the Melos and now the Mandelring - enough for me .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Perhaps this is all part of the BBC Sounds agenda.

[visualnickmos]

I have the Melos and now the Mandelring - enough for me .

A superb set, the Melos. Another that I'm quite partial to, is the Brilliant Classics box set of 'Complete Chamber Works' with various performers.... mostly the Sharon(!) Quartet

[MickyD]

Do Not look at the Record Review website!

The 'winner' has been announced with all the recommended alternatives!

I already looked, unfortunately...that's ruined the programme for me! Hope this was an oversight and not going to be a regular feature.

[Pulcinella]

Done.

[verismissimo]

I wonder if anyone else recalls Hans Keller's 1970s R3 talks on string quartets? (To a student audience, I think...)
There was an especially detailed analysis of Beethoven's OP.130, IIRC a series on the Schoenberg cycle too, and....another close-in analysis of this very Mendelssohn A Minor....

I think the best thing about it for me was, I got to know this Mendelssohn masterpiece closely through the sheer number of excerpts played...it started a lifelong love of (and deep respect for) this composer, at a time when, say, Mahler and Bruckner Symphonies seemed to offer more spectacularly involving experiences.

I almost imagine I can recall the first time I heard that wonderful, cyclical winding-down at the finale's end; the profound inevitability of the 1st Movement introduction's return.
In my end is my beginning...

Yes. Hans Keller was devoted to Mendelssohn and his quartets. Later that year (?) I heard him do a talk at the Cheltenham Festival where he explained that the composer has not one but two ss's in the middle of his name.

How is it that certain things stick while most floats through without touching the sides?