In the more intimate world of chamber music, the string octet is an opulent phenomenon. This large-scale format seems almost destined for the union of two string quartets – and in this case, the combination could hardly be more successful. One of »the most exciting string quartets around today« (Fono Forum on the Schumann Quartett) joins forces with a young ensemble whose playing recently left »nothing to be desired from a chamber music perspective« (Hamburger Abendblatt on the Simply Quartet). The stage is set for a truly memorable evening.
Mendelssohn’s String Octet remains the benchmark for this line-up. Little wonder, considering that the composer was only 16 years old when he produced a work whose effortless perfection and extrovert brilliance have rarely been surpassed – except, perhaps, by another youthful stroke of genius such as George Enescu’s Octet.
Composed when Enescu was just 19, his contribution to the genre is virtually a symphony in disguise. The late-Romantic richness of sound and breathtaking drama that surges from the strings seems almost capable of exceeding the boundaries of the Recital Hall itself – an experience whose compelling power unfolds with particular intensity in the venue’s intimate acoustic.
PERFORMERS
Schumann Quartett string quartet
Erik Schumann violin
Ken Schumann violin
Matthew McDowell viola
Mark Schumann violoncello
Quatuor Hermès string quartet
Omer Bouchez violin
Elise Liu violin
ManuelVioque-Judde viola
Yan Levionnois violoncello
PROGRAM
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
String Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20
- Interval -
George Enescu
String Octet in C major, Op. 7
