Search - Cherubini Quartet, Felix Mendelssohn :: String Quartets #1 & 2

Exceptionally charming

R. Broadhead | Southwestern USA | 05/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These two qaurtets were composed while Mendelssohn was young. The Quartet No. 2 in A minor was composed first, in 1827 while Mendelssohn was 18. The Quartet No. 1 in E flat major was composed two years later in 1829, but was published before the A minor quartet.



Both of these pieces contain melodies and tonal textures that are exceptionally charming. The melodies are songlike or dancelike with the fast movements being somewhat forceful and the slow movements being either light and capricious or thoughtful and reserved. It is in the middle slow movements that the music really shines. The delicate melodies and exquisite balance of tonal texture among the different instruments just reach out and grab the listener. Although both of these quartets bear structural similarities to Beethoven's quartets,in overall aspect and feel they are more like Haydn's.



The Cherubini Quartet plays both pieces with a somewhat light feel that fits the music perfectly. Their playing is well synchronized, in tune, clear and precise. The recordings were made in 1989 and 1990 and the sound is excellent digital that captures the tone and timbre of the instruments very well. The recording is well balanced and all four instruments come through equally clearly.



When I picked this CD up, I was unfamiliar with Mendelssohn's string quartets (he wrote 6 of them). The two youthful efforts on this CD are exceptional compositions. If you like classical or early romantic string quartets, you may wish to give this recording a try. The two compositions on this CD have become some my favorite string quartets not quite ahead of Haydn or the delightful little quartets of Rossini but above the quartets of Beethoven, Borodin, Dvorak, Schubert and others. These quartets by the young Mendelssohn are just plain enjoyable."