Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Performer: Doric String Quartet
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Chandos
Catalogue: CHAN20257(2)
Release: 2021
Size: 1.53 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13
01. I. Adagio – Allegro vivace
02. II. Adadgio non lento – Poco più animato
03. III. Intermezzo. Allegretto con moto
04. IV. Presto – Adagio non lento – Recitativo
String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 44 No. 1
05. I. Molto allegro vivace
06. II. Menuetto. Up poco allegretto
07. III. Andante espressivo ma con moto
08. IV. Presto con brio
CD 02
String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44 No. 2
01. I. Allegro assai appassionato
02. II. Scherzo. Allegro di molto
03. III. Adante
04. IV. Presto agitato – Animato
Following an exceptional critical reception of their first volume of Mendelssohn’s Quartets, the Doric String Quartet now completes the project. As in the case of the previous volume, the players juxtapose one of the early quartets (No. 2) with two of the later compositions (No. 3 and No. 4), composed a decade or so later.
Composed in 1827, the Second Quartet pays homage to Beethoven’s outstanding contribution to the genre (Beethoven died in March of that year), but this is no simple pastiche. It is a confident work, Mendelssohn’s individual voice already clearly present. The later quartets are perhaps less overtly revolutionary – Mendelssohn was now an established figure and a recipient of Royal commissions – but nevertheless remain clear milestones in the development of the genre.