Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
(1809-1847)
Mendelssohn Project Vol. 4
String Symphonies
No. 8, 9 & 10
dogma chamber orchestra
Mikhail Gurewitsch, concertmaster
MDG 912 2265-6
(SACD)
Price: 21,99 €
precocious
Mendelssohn, at age 13, is about to take the world of music by storm. Witness first hand the developmental process of one of the most outstanding personalities in the history of music with volume 4 of dogma chamber orchestra’s Mendelssohn Project. With inimitable verve, the 20-strong ensemble combines increasing musical demands with youthful freshness to create an impressive feast for the ears.
prodigious
While Felix was initially inspired by the baroque masters on the advice of his teacher Zelter, the advanced student is now completely in tune with the times. The Scherzo from Symphony No. 9, which could also have been by Beethoven, demonstrates the newly found artistic independence by the young composer - the gently swinging "Swiss song" in the Trio exudes all the charm of an alpine landscape.
ingenious
The slow movements of the two "great" symphonies 8 and 9 are orchestrated in a surprisingly original way: The darkly coloured Adagio in the 8th is played exclusively by violas and bass instruments. In contrast, four-part violins provide an almost transcendental vibrancy to the opening of the Andante in the 9th which is taken over by the low strings in the middle section, and united at the end with with fanned-out harmonies.
incredible
Symphony No. 10 consists of only one Allegro movement with an extended, expressive introduction. dogma chamber orchestra‘s explosive performance of the short piece in B minor is spectacular - the exhilarating stretta finale in MDG‘s realistic three-dimensional reproduction makes the listener want to jump out of their armchair and give a standing ovation. Bravi tutti!
Weitere Entdeckungen:
