BaL 23.10.21 - Mendelssohn: Octet

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30 Building a Library
Katy Hamilton compares recordings of Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet for strings in E flat major and chooses her favourite.

There has never been a more prodigiously talented child composer than Felix Mendelssohn and proof of that is his Octet. Written in 1825 when he was 16 years old, it was unprecedented in form: there had been double quartets but nothing like this where all the instruments are combined with unique brilliance and clarity of texture. Above all, though, it’s the Octet’s sheer lyrical joyousness and exuberant energy which sets it apart, the teen Mendelssohn’s generosity of spirit thrillingly combined with his compositional genius.

Available versions:-

London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble (Chandos)
Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble (DG) *
Academy of St Martin in the Fields (Decca)
Afiara Quartet, Alexander String Quartet *
Amati String Orchestra *
Auer String Quartet, Kodály Quartet
Auryn Quartet, Minguet Quartet (DVD)
Auryn Quartet, Minguet Quartet
Australian Chamber Orchestra (SACD)
Bartok Quartet, etc.
Brandis Quartett, Westphal-Quartett *
Budapest Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra *
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Cleveland Quartet, Meliora Quartet *
Divertimenti
Eder Quartett, Kreuzberger Quartet *
Christian Eisenberger, Lucy Gould, Sophie Besancon, Stewart Eaton (viola), William Conway, Daniel Hope, Pascal Siffert, Kate Gould *
Emerson String Quartet *
Ensemble Explorations, Roel Dieltiens
Ensemble Tiramisu
Eroica Quartet, Robin Michael, Marcus Barsham-Stevens, Oliver Wilson, Ken Aiso *
Liza Ferschtman, Marc Desmons, Sebastian Klinger, Antoine Lederlin, Krzysztof Chorzelski, Itamar Zorman, Corina Belcea, , Elina Vähälä (SACD)
Camerata Freden *
Gringolts Quartet, Meta4
Hausmusik London *
Jascha Heifetz, William Primrose, Gabor Rejto, Gregor Piatigorsky, Virginia Majewski, Joseph Stepansky, Israel Baker, Arnold Belnick *
Henschel Quartet, Diogenes Quartet
Daniel Hope, Lucy Gould, Sophie Besancon, Christian Eisenberger, Pascal Siffert, Stewart Eaton, William Conway, Kate Gould *
I Musici
I Solisti Italiani *
Jade Quartett, Cuarteto Leonor *
Jaime Laredo, John Dalley, Arnold Steinhardt, Alexander Schneider, Michael Tree, Samuel Rhodes, Leslie Parnas, David Soyer
Janacek Quartet, Smetana Quartet
Leipziger Streichquartett, etc.
Jakob Lehmann, Katya Polin, Davit Melkonyan, Astrig Siranossian, Bernadette Verhagen, Nicolas Mazzoleni, Balázs Bozzai, Chouchane Siranossian
Mandelring Quartett, Quartetto di Cremona (SACD)
Medici String Quartet, Alberni String Quartet
Melos Ensemble *
Merel Quartet, Castalian String Quartet
Nash Ensemble *
Primavera Chamber Ensembkle *
ROctet
Seattle Chamber Music Octet
Gil Shaham, Sejong Soloists
Smithsonian Chamber Players *
Christian Tetzlaff, Isabelle Faust, Antje Weithaas, Lisa Batiashvili, Kathrine Gowers, Rachel Roberts, Ori Kam, Antoine Tamestit, Tanja Tetzlaff, Quirine Viersen, Gustav Rivinius *
Tharice Virtuosi
NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini *
Vienna Octet
Pinchas Zukerman, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra *


* = download only

[MickyD]

I've always loved the Hausmusik recording, especially as it was originally coupled with the divine Quintet No. 1.

[pastoralguy]

My absolute favourite has always been the Zukerman/St. Paul’s recording. I suppose it’s not really ‘correct’ since it’s more of an arrangement than an Octet but Zukerman’s playing is absolutely stunning. I first came across this cd at University and I’d listen to it every Friday afternoon. Alas, I didn’t take the opportunity to buy the cd when it was available in the 80’s so lost track of it.

However, when the new fangled internet thing became part of my life and I realised I could buy stuff by credit card I traced a copy in New York for $3 and couldn’t believe it when it, eventually, arrived through the post! Still one of my favourite cds. In fact, I’m going to put it on now…

[kernelbogey]

Just one of the most joyous pieces in the classical repertoire!

[gurnemanz]

I got the 1968 Supraphon recording with the Janácek & Smetana Quartets on LP in the early 70s. It's a fine version which I became very fond of and played a lot. I upgraded to the 2002 Supraphon Archiv reissue on CD, where it is coupled with the Piano Trio No 1 from the Suk Trio in 1966. There are clearly many good rival versions of the Octet by now but I would be surprised if this one didn't figure in the BaL. It remained my only recording until I acquired the Melos Ensemble on their EMI Icon box a few years ago.

[Braunschlag]

I got the 1968 Supraphon recording with the Janácek & Smetana Quartets on LP in the early 70s. It's a fine version which I became very fond of and played a lot. I upgraded to the 2002 Supraphon Archiv reissue on CD, where it is coupled with the Piano Trio No 1 from the Suk Trio in 1966. There are clearly many good rival versions of the Octet by now but I would be surprised if this one didn't figure in the BaL. It remained my only recording until I acquired the Melos Ensemble on their EMI Icon box a few years ago.

The Smetana/Janacek does sound well, so toothe Decca ASMF, the Vienna Octet and (shock horror) I rather like Hausmusik, the only HIPP performance I ever liked (probably because it doesn’t sound that austere to me and it’s a super recording). I tried the Heifetz and have kept it as a curio, it’s all a bit OTT really but I’ve a soft spot for anything by Heifetz. I think my first LP of the Octet was I Musici but that now seems a little ordinary.

[Darloboy]

Previous BaL recommendations:

Piers Burton-Page (May 09): Chamber Music Ensemble of Lincoln Center
Andrew Manze (Feb 99): 1st choice: Cleveland Qt & Meliora Qt; 2nd choice: Melos Ensemble

Slightly surprised that Mr Manze didn't make a period version his 1st choice.

As it's Katy Hamilton this time, it's almost certain we won't get a period recommendation. Fortunately I already have the Hausmusik recording.

[gradus]

I dug out my I Musici LP and enjoyed it - a performance style about as far removed from contemporary practice as could be imagined but this is such a great piece that its difficult to imagine a performance I wouldn't like.

[Braunschlag]

‘As it's Katy Hamilton this time, it's almost certain we won't get a period recommendation. Fortunately I already have the Hausmusik recording.’

It’s good, likeable, vivacious, but very HIPP light and none the worse for it. It deserves a mention at the very least.

[edashtav]

Just one of the most joyous pieces in the classical repertoire!

[edashtav]

‘as it's katy hamilton this time, it's almost certain we won't get a period recommendation. Fortunately i already have the hausmusik recording.’

it’s good, likeable, vivacious, but very hipp light and none the worse for it. It deserves a mention at the very least.

hip, hip, hipp, hooray!

[richardfinegold]

I've always loved the Hausmusik recording, especially as it was originally coupled with the divine Quintet No. 1.

I’ve always loved this piece since I first heard included on ASMF recording 40 years ago. I’m guessing that must be the Decca recording as there are 3 By ASMF in Alpie’s list. I actually haven’t sought it out as a purchase since then but I know that I have managed to acquire a few others as disc fillers for other works. Perhaps a HIPP recording is in order

[antongould]

Just one of the most joyous pieces in the classical repertoire!

It is indeed

[Lordgeous]

I’ve always loved this piece since I first heard included on ASMF recording 40 years ago. I’m guessing that must be the Decca recording as there are 3 By ASMF in Alpie’s list. I actually haven’t sought it out as a purchase since then but I know that I have managed to acquire a few others as disc fillers for other works. Perhaps a HIPP recording is in order

Just bought the ASMF/Decca CD as happy memory of my first hearing of the work by them, and many times after. I think we take for granted now what a brilliant group they were. I'd never heard string playing like it. Heard them many times live, especially at Dartington, and sat in on recording sessions at the sorely missed Kingsway Hall. What a sound! I was eventually commissioned to write a piece for them too!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Just bought the ASMF/Decca CD as happy memory of my first hearing of the work by them, and many times after. I think we take for granted now what a brilliant group they were. I'd never heard string playing like it. Heard them many times live, especially at Dartington, and sat in on recording sessions at the sorely missed Kingsway Hall. What a sound! I was eventually commissioned to write a piece for them too!

I heard them playing it live in 1969. Unforgettable.