Masterworks Archive

FELIX MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY: “Complete Chamber Music for Strings” = Mandelring Q. & Q. di Cremona – Audite (4 CDs)

by Audiophile Audition | Jan 1, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

FELIX MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY: “Complete Chamber Music for Strings” = String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 12; String Quartet in A minor, Op. 13; String Quartet in E-flat major; String Quartet in D major, Op. 44, No. 1; String Quartet in e minor, Op. 44, No. 2; String Quartet in f minor, Op. 80; String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 44, No. 3; Four Pieces for String Quartet, Op. 81, Nos. 1-4; Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20; String Quintet No. 1 in A major; String Quintet No.2 in B-flat major – Mandelring Quartet/Gunter Teuffel, viola/Quartetto di Cremona – Audite 21.436 (4 CDs), TT: 296:12 [Distr. by Naxos](8/14/15) ***1/2: Very well-done and comprehensive collection of these masterworks. Felix Mendelssohn is considered by many to be a chamber music master at heart. Given his early start as a performer who wrote for talented friends, like violinist and composer Ferdinand David, in salon settings; this is to be expected. As much as I do like his larger works, like his orchestral and choral output, there is something rich and intimate about works such as these that I have always enjoyed. This collection is a very rewarding compilation of all Mendelssohn’s chamber music for […]