Emerson String Quartet - Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

add to my favorites email to a friend subscribe to feed

texas-fiddler
Flower Mound, TX

The Model Mendelssohn Quartet Album

Open-minded, a fan of good music, a music lover, Music Fan, a classic music fan, music teacher, a frequent performer, music student

show all »

Pros

Outstanding performances., Great Recording, Reasonable Price for 4 CD's

FEB

2008

The Mendelssohn String Quartet is known for their masterful interpretations. These gentlemen are always technically impeccable. This album is no exception. This 4 CD set includes all the string quartets written by Mendelssohn as well as several misceallaneous movements, and his string octet. This is the performance set against which all others should be judged. The Emersons set the standard with incredible tone, dead-on tempos, and flawless performance. In recording the octet they chose to record all eight parts themselves and then electronically mix the two performances together. They were so concerned with maintaining an authentic tone that they switched instruments between performances, so (for example) you'll hear Lawrence Dutton playing two different violas so that, as in a live performance, you won't hear the tone of a single instrument. And the result is wonderful! Outstanding works. Incredibly performed. This album belongs in the library of every lover of the string quartet genre.