Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: String Octet, Piano Sextet (Remastered) Prazak Quartet, Kocian Quartet, Jaromir Klepac & Jiri Hudec

• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809 - 1847): Octet for Strings in E-Flat Major, Op. 20:
• 1 Bartholdy: Octet for Strings in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: I. Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco 14:30
• 2 Bartholdy: Octet for Strings in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: II. Andante 07:07
• 3 Bartholdy: Octet for Strings in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: III. Scherzo. Allegro leggierissimo 04:22
• 4 Bartholdy: Octet for Strings in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: IV. Presto 06:22
• Piano Sextet in D Major, Op. 110:
• 5 Bartholdy: Piano Sextet in D Major, Op. 110: I. Allegro. Vivace 11:17
• 6 Bartholdy: Piano Sextet in D Major, Op. 110: II. Adagio 04:45
• 7 Bartholdy: Piano Sextet in D Major, Op. 110: III. Minuetto (Agitato) 02:21
• 8 Bartholdy: Piano Sextet in D Major, Op. 110: IV. Allegro vivace 10:02
• Total Runtime 01:00:46

Info for Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: String Octet, Piano Sextet (Remastered)

A rare coupling of two masterpieces by an adolescent of 14-15. The first was responsible for his eternal fame, along with the incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream; the other, which remained overlooked, was published posthumously and now sounds like a chamber concerto, a preliminary exercise for the illustration of the Shakespearean world.

They mean well, their hearts are in it, and they clearly have the chops. But ultimately, the Prazák Quartet's and Kocian Quartet's recording of Mendelssohn's ineffably evanescent String Octet doesn't quite make the grade. Because for all their good intentions, the Prazák and Kocian quartets' performance does not quite capture the work's ineffable evanescence, its sense of youthful impetuosity and masterful lucidity or its feeling for achingly lovely melodies and strongly effective rhythms. This is not to say that their performance isn't effective enough in its own terms – the players tear into the opening Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco, with plenty of vim and vigor. But it is to say that their performance isn't effective enough on the work's own terms – the opening Allegro is moderato enough, but not ma con fuoco enough. Similarly, the groups' joint performance of Mendelssohn's Piano Sextet with pianist Jaromir Klepac is convincing as an almost piano concerto, but not as a piece of chamber music, which, of course, it is what it is. There are plenty of better recordings of the Octet in the world – try the Melos Ensemble or the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields – and even a few better recordings of the Piano Sextet – try the Chamber Music Ensemble of Lincoln Center or the Bartholdy Quartett.

"A collection of two brilliant chamber works from Mendelssohn here; one deservedly much better known than the piano sextet (which has a rather unusual string scoring for violin, 2 violas, cello & double bass), which is not to say the sextet is un-listenable. Far from it but compared to the masterpiece presented first, it doesn't quite hit the heights reached by the octet. Definitely highly recommended and if the overall quality of Praga's artists are of this level, I will become a devoted follower very quickly indeed!" (John Broggio)

Prazák Quartet
Kocian Quartet
Jaromír Klepác, piano
Jirí Hudec, double bass

Digitally remastered

The Pražák Quartet
one of today’s leading international chamber music ensembles - was established in 1972 while its members were students at the Prague Conservatory, and won major chamber music prizes early on, including first prize at the prestigious Evian String Quartet Competition, along with a special recording prize from Radio France. Since then, the quartet has gained attention for its place in the unique Czech quartet tradition, and for its musical virtuosity.

For more than 30 years, the Prazak Quartet has been at home on music stages worldwide. They are regular guests in the major European musical capitals such as Prague, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Milan, Madrid, London, Berlin, and Munich, and have been invited to participate at numerous international festivals, where they have collaborated with such artists as Menahem Pressler, Jon Nakamatsu, Cynthia Phelps, Roberto Diaz, Josef Suk, and Sharon Kam.

The quartet has toured widely in North America, having performed in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Washington, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal and many others. The quartet returns to the US and Canada every other year.

The Prazak Quartet has recorded extensively for Praga/Harmonia Mundi which, to date, has released 50 award-winning CDs. In addition to numerous radio recordings in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, the Prazak Quartet has also made recordings for Supraphon, Panton, Orfeo, Ottavo, Bonton, and Nuova Era.

As of 2020, violinist Marie Fuxová and cellist Jonáš Krejčí joined the quartet. The new members bring their extensive string quartet and chamber music experience, having played with the Pavel Haas, Škampa, Petersen and Schulhoff quartets as well as in many chamber orchestras and ensembles. They bring their experience and energy into the group while remaining faithful to the Czech quartet tradition, character and quality which are the longtime hallmarks of the Pražák Quartet. A new CD with the last string quartets of Josef Haydn will be released on the Aparté/Praga label in August 2021.

Booklet for Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: String Octet, Piano Sextet (Remastered)