Mendelssohn: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 4

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this is full-blooded quartet playing in the grand, classic manner; extrovert and eloquent. Rich tone, good balance and a particularly noteworthy expressiveness from the first violin, Adam Barnett-Hart,... — BBC Music Magazine, August 2015, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 1st Jun 2015
Catalogue No: BIS1960
Label: BIS
Length: 80 minutes

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Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 12

Work length24:57

$5.00

$7.60

Escher String Quartet

I. Adagio non troppo - Allegro non tardante

Track length7:36

$1.50

$2.30

II. Canzonetta. Allegretto

Track length3:49

$1.00

$1.50

III. Andante espressivo -

Track length4:59

$1.00

$1.50

IV. Molto allegro e vivace

Track length8:33

$1.50

$2.30

Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E-Flat Major, MWV R18

Work length27:30

$5.00

$7.60

Escher String Quartet

I. Allegro moderato

Track length9:37

$1.50

$2.30

II. Adagio non troppo

Track length6:09

$1.00

$1.50

III. Minuetto - Trio

Track length7:08

$1.50

$2.30

IV. Fuga

Track length4:36

$1.00

$1.50

Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44 No. 2

Work length27:37

$5.00

$7.60

Escher String Quartet

I. Allegro assai appassionato

Track length10:08

$1.50

$2.30

II. Scherzo. Allegro di molto

Track length3:57

$1.00

$1.50

III. Andante

Track length6:15

$1.00

$1.50

IV. Presto agitato

Track length7:17

$1.50

$2.30

About
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About

With their début disc on BIS, the Eschers launch a three-disc cycle of Mendelssohn’s string quartets, including the unnumbered String Quartet in E flat major and – on coming instalments – the four pieces for string quartet Op. 81. The quartet genre accompanied Mendelssohn throughout his life, from the previously mentioned E flat major quartet – which he composed at the age of 14 – to String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, his last major work, completed only two months before his death in 1847. As a body of work, the quartets demonstrate many of Mendelssohn’s finest qualities as a composer – his fascination for and understanding of the music of both Bach and Beethoven, his affinity for string instruments, and that gift for melody as well as texture which has made his Lieder ohne Worte and the elfin music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream so eternally popular. Composed in 1829, the Quartet Op. 12 is still an early work – from the time of the Hebrides Overture – while the E minor quartet, Op. 44 No. 2, can be counted as one of the first master-pieces by the mature composer.

Reviews

August 2015

this is full-blooded quartet playing in the grand, classic manner; extrovert and eloquent. Rich tone, good balance and a particularly noteworthy expressiveness from the first violin, Adam Barnett-Hart, who offers that rare ability not only to sing but also to speak through the instrument.

August 2015

The Escher are fervent advocates of [the E flat Quartet], imbuing the slow movement with a luxuriant warmth…there's no doubting the players' musicianship or technical ability, which are caught with admirable immediacy.

11th June 2015

the Eschers sound warm, relaxed and responsive to all of Mendelssohn’s expressive nuances...They lavish full, red-blooded tone on the slow movement of the genial Quartet No 1, and in the restless Quartet No 4 they keep the momentum striving forward, with first violinist Adam Barnett-Hart spinning long, seamless phrases.

Mendelssohn: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 4

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