Search - Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (Composer), Niels Wilhelm Gade (Composer), Vera Beths (Violin) :: Mendelssohn / Gade: Octets for Strings (Stradivarius Instruments from the Collection of the Smithsonian Institution) - L'Archibudelli & Smithsonian Chamber Players

The more the merrier

ViolaNut | Boston, MA | 07/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The string octet is one of the largest no-conductor forms of chamber music, and the Mendelssohn is the indisputed king of the genre (other entries include Shostakovitch, Enesco, and the so-called double quartets of Spohr and Laderman). This recording, by the performance practice group L'Archibudelli, is a worthy addition to anyone's discography; the balances are great (even when the melody is fighting against 6 or 7 other voices) and the energy, especially in the take-no-prisoners fourth movement, is palpable. Oh, and don't forget the "sempre pianissimo" scherzo, no easy task with eight instruments.It's paired with a work by Niels Gade, which I had never heard before buying this disc. You know what - it's actually quite a worthy piece, and I immediately scrounged it out of the library and brought it to our next sight-reading party. It passed the "this is neat, let's keep going" test there, and the slow movement is especially worthy of note here. With a fresh reading of an old favorite and a new work to discover, you could do a lot worse than this recording."

Mendelssohn Octet Renewed!

Sarah Marie Perkins | Jacksonville, Florida | 06/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This version of the Mendelssohn Octet is one of the best I have heard in ages. The climaxes, innuendos, and nuances are in polished and exhualted shape. The Smithsonian Chamber musicians themselves sound and feel the music in a united sense!"

Passionate and engaging

Erez Katz | CA, USA | 03/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is very dynamic, espcially the first movement of the Mendelssohn Octet, I simply admire the playing of the first violin.



I would have given it 5 stars unless if it wasn't to the Hausmusik London recording. Though not as dynamic or passionate (though it certainly not lacking), the Hausmusik are first and foremost an ensemble.

They boast higher level of precision and groupd dynamics.



My recommendation is to get the both, you will not be sorry!"