Emerson Quartet plays Mendelssohn Octet

[MRC01]

It's unusual for classical music to overdub like this. Neat stuff about the recording method, the instruments used, etc. And just general goofing off for fun.
Part 1:

Part 2:

 

[Dennis Murphy]

Thanks--interesting look and listen. I'll have to pick up the CD. The recording is quite old (2003), so I'm sure more complex productions are possible today, although I can't think of much in the way of source material that would benefit from that. My only quibble is with Mendelssohn, who wrote this when he was a teenager and probably gave generations of budding composers genius-envy and writer's block.

 

[MRC01]

I'm listening to the recording on Primephonic and find the sound quality to be excellent. Very well recorded. Mendelssohn in general has never been one of my favorites, and I've heard all these pieces before. But the way Emerson plays them, I'm hearing new dimensions to this music.

 

[Capitol C]

Overdubbed or not, this is a remarkable piece of music.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

If you can enjoy it in multichannel, this one's a delight.

 

[ahofer]

My wife loooves playing this piece with her chamber music buddies. It isn’t one of my favorites, though.

 

[Dennis Murphy]

My wife loooves playing this piece with her chamber music buddies. It isn’t one of my favorites, though.

Hard to see how you couldn't be enthusiastic about this burst of genius. However, if you listen to the last movement carefully, you'll see where young Felix borrowed a bit from Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.

 

[Daverz]

I can't see how anyone could not love this joyful work. I do have the Emerson on the hard drive, but felt in a contrary mood and opted for the old combined Janacek and Smetana Quartets in this box:

Still sounds great to my ears. Originally a Westminster recording, IIRC.

 

[MRC01]

Another performance of the Octet that I do enjoy is this one. It's played quite differently.