I have always loved the Mendelssohn quartets, he had a Mozartian sense of melody mixed with the energy and enthusiasm of Beethoven but they still manage to be unique...like Dave said, he invented his own tradition and these works influenced Schumann and Brahms in a big way, and neither one of them could touch him in this genre in my opinion.The F minor quartet was a direct result of him hearing about the death of his sister, and you can almost hear his cry of agony in the music itself...if anyone out there hasn't heard these, you really need to give them a try, you won't regret it.
Hello Dave, I love the Mendelssohn string quartets, and I love your advocacy of his music. I tend to agree with the commenter here who notes that Wagner’s ugly prejudice really has a large impact on his reputation. But it was also the fact that he was beloved of the British Victorians, and the next generation came to hate everything Victorian. But of course this was an overreaction, and involved sometimes throwing out the baby with the bath water. Besides, Mendelssohn’s music transcends the elements that the Victorians found appealing. By the way, I still can’t wait for you to do an Elijah video. I will be patient and continue to enjoy all the others in the meantime.
THANK YOU for introducing me to these marvelous quartets! Just WONDERFUL. Am waiting patiently for your survey of Shostakovich quartet cycles ( Pacifica vs Borodin vs Emerson etc). What a way to get into the mood for Yom Kippur. Except there is probably no atonement in his (S’s) quartets. Mendelssohn is so much more a delight. Again THANK YOU!!
As I have mentioned previously, I will not be doing the Shostakovich quartets comparatively. There are many good cycles, and there aren't enough substantive differences between them to make comparison meaningful.
Great choice! Mendelssohn’s string quartets do not get nearly enough play. I wanted to make an off the beaten path recommendation to be considered for Dave’s Fave’s: The outstanding performance of the two Rheinberger Organ Concerti by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra.
I love these performances! And the music is treasure trove of rarely acknowledged masterpieces.
I have always loved the Mendelssohn quartets, he had a Mozartian sense of melody mixed with the energy and enthusiasm of Beethoven but they still manage to be unique...like Dave said, he invented his own tradition and these works influenced Schumann and Brahms in a big way, and neither one of them could touch him in this genre in my opinion.The F minor quartet was a direct result of him hearing about the death of his sister, and you can almost hear his cry of agony in the music itself...if anyone out there hasn't heard these, you really need to give them a try, you won't regret it.
Cannot agree more with you. Mendelssohn's string quartets are marvelous pieces that should all be any serious collection.
Too true, big fan here.
I was turned onto Mendelssohn's quartets via the Emerson string quartet. ...amazing.
Hello Dave, I love the Mendelssohn string quartets, and I love your advocacy of his music. I tend to agree with the commenter here who notes that Wagner’s ugly prejudice really has a large impact on his reputation. But it was also the fact that he was beloved of the British Victorians, and the next generation came to hate everything Victorian. But of course this was an overreaction, and involved sometimes throwing out the baby with the bath water. Besides, Mendelssohn’s music transcends the elements that the Victorians found appealing. By the way, I still can’t wait for you to do an Elijah video. I will be patient and continue to enjoy all the others in the meantime.
Be VERY patient!
THANK YOU for introducing me to these marvelous quartets! Just WONDERFUL. Am waiting patiently for your survey of Shostakovich quartet cycles ( Pacifica vs Borodin vs Emerson etc). What a way to get into the mood for Yom Kippur. Except there is probably no atonement in his (S’s) quartets. Mendelssohn is so much more a delight. Again THANK YOU!!
As I have mentioned previously, I will not be doing the Shostakovich quartets comparatively. There are many good cycles, and there aren't enough substantive differences between them to make comparison meaningful.
Great choice! Mendelssohn’s string quartets do not get nearly enough play. I wanted to make an off the beaten path recommendation to be considered for Dave’s Fave’s: The outstanding performance of the two Rheinberger Organ Concerti by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Sorry Dave, what do you think about the melos quartet complete set version?
Sadly, the Wagner prejudice sidelined him, Great music...