BaL 14.11.20 - Mendelssohn: String Quartet no. 6 in F minor Op.80

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am
Building a Library
Felix Mendelssohn’s six completed string quartets form one of the most impressive and beautiful cycles ever written. The last of them, in F minor Op.80, is open to many different interpretations and Natasha Loges has been sifting through recordings in order to come up with an ultimate personal recommendation.

Available versions:-

Alinde Quartett
Artemis Quartet
Aurora String Quartet
Badke Quartet
Calidore String Quartet
Cherubini Quartett
Colorado String Quartet
Coull Quartet *
Doric String Quartet *
Dudok Quartet Amsterdam
Elias String Quartet
Emerson String Quartet *
Eroica Quartet
Escher String Quartet (SACD)
Gewandhaus-Quartett
Henschel String Quartet *
Iturriaga Quartet
Jupiter String Quartet
Kuss Quartet
Leipziger Streichquartett
Maggini String Quartet
Mandelring Quartet (SACD)
Melos Quartett *
Merel Quartet
Minguet Quartett
Modigliani Quartet *
New Zealand String Quartet
Pacifica Quartet
Quatuor Alcan
Quatuor Ebène
Quatuor Psophos
Rodin Quartet
Tippett Quartet
Vision String Quartet
Ysaye Quartet


* = download only

[Edgy 2]

Desert Island piece for me this,what a stunning work it is

I have a few on that list,I really rate the Henschel Qt
Won't be listening though as usual,the programme lost it's appeal for me a long time ago

[jayne lee wilson]

Devastating tragic masterpiece.... "last letters" .....from just before, rather than beyond, the grave............

Only hope the reviewer does it justice..... Leipzigers remain my go-to, but its long overdue I try another....

Following their recent wonderful Schumann set, I'll seek out the Emersons.... with the Eroicas (also outstanding in Schumann) as foil...

[Goon525]

I heard the Belcea’s play it live a year or two back - exceptional. Shame they haven’t recorded it.

[Bryn]

I heard the Belcea’s play it live a year or two back - exceptional. Shame they haven’t recorded it.

The Eroica Quartet does it for me.

[Pulcinella]

I never cease to be amazed at the range of interests, knowledge, and expertise of other forum members!

Not my period, again, but BBC MM to the rescue:
Volume 26, Number 11
Calidore String Quartet (Radio 3 New Generation Artists).

And if Edgy thinks this is a desert island piece, it must be worth another listen in case I missed something first time round.

[MickyD]

The Eroica Quartet does it for me.

Same for me; happily they recorded all the quartets.

[richardfinegold]

Devastating tragic masterpiece.... "last letters" .....from just before, rather than beyond, the grave............

Only hope the reviewer does it justice..... Leipzigers remain my go-to, but its long overdue I try another....

Following their recent wonderful Schumann set, I'll seek out the Emersons.... with the Eroicas (also outstanding in Schumann) as foil...

I have the Leipzig and the Eroica...the Pacifica would be worth hearing.

[jayne lee wilson]

I have the Leipzig and the Eroica...the Pacifica would be worth hearing.

Oh don't worry the Emersons (Qobuz lossless early this morning) are remarkable too.....more later I hope...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I never cease to be amazed at the range of interests, knowledge, and expertise of other forum members!

[richardfinegold]

I have the Leipzig and the Eroica...the Pacifica would be worth hearing.

To my surprise, the only version that I have is by the Gewandhaus Qt, on Brilliant. I listened to op.80 again today. I do think it stands out amongst FM oeuvre for its dark tone. I will check out the Emersons on Qobuz

[Padraig]

By coincidence, I have just the other day dug out the Mendelssohn quartets for listening which I have not yet done. I'll certainly be listening to that BAL. The set I have is that by the Emersons, which includes all the quartets, and two movements which were thought to be part of a new quartet he was planning, and the Octet by their own special arrangement. Opus 80 is quite a tragic concept really, even now.

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes - and fascinating to consider the "meaning" of the slow movement, amid the intensity and drama around it...

[french frank]

By coincidence, I have just the other day dug out the Mendelssohn quartets for listening which I have not yet done. I'll certainly be listening to that BAL. The set I have is that by the Emersons, which includes all the quartets, and two movements which were thought to be part of a new quartet he was planning, and the Octet by their own special arrangement. Opus 80 is quite a tragic concept really, even now.

I have that set - 2005? The "bonus" CD4 has 2 'volumes', one with the Octet and a second with, I can't remember what as it needs PowerPC which is no longer supported. Was it an explanation as to how they recorded the Octet? I know they all used a different instrument for the second 'layer', to give the impression of eight players. I remembered it as a DVD, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

At any rate, the quartets are fine.

[jayne lee wilson]

I have that set - 2005? The "bonus" CD4 has 2 'volumes', one with the Octet and a second with, I can't remember what as it needs PowerPC which is no longer supported. Was it an explanation as to how they recorded the Octet? I know they all used a different instrument for the second 'layer', to give the impression of eight players. I remembered it as a DVD, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

At any rate, the quartets are fine.

The 5th CD, still available on Qobuz in 10 tracks, has Eugene Drucker discoursing with great and memorable eloquence, and precision, on the Mendelssohn Quartets, their place in music history and his experiences in recording them. Compelling listening!

Wonderful to find such an accomplished musician taking them with all the seriousness that they deserve - and always have deserved, as all true Mendelssohnians have long known.