A youthful brainwave A year before writing the masterly Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, Mendelssohn had already
taught his elf and fairy cohorts to fly: in the Scherzo of the Octet op.20, the centrepiece of a work composed in 1825, when its
composer was only sixteen! Here, in evanescent, whispering semiquavers, a host of scintillating, fleeting sylphlike figures
perform an extraordinary ghostly dance. But that is only one aspect of this dazzling youthful creation, which contains many
other treasures. With just four violins, two violas and two cellos, the Octet opens wide the gates to a symphonic world full of
promise...
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Octuor op.20en Mi bemol majeur / E flat major / Es-dur
1 Allegro moderato ma con fuoco 14'02
2 Andante 6'55
3 Scherzo 4'59
4 Presto 5'49
5 Variations concertantes pour violoncelle et piano op.17 9'25
6 Romance sans paroles pour violoncelle et piano op.109en Re majeur / D major / D-dur 4'07
7 Albumblatt op.117(pour violoncelle et piano)en mi mineur / E minor / e-moll 3'41 |
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