Haydn Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 4; Mendelssohn Octet
Shaham and co bring bustling virtuosity to Mendelssohn’s teenage masterpiece
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Joseph Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn
Genre:
Orchestral
Label: Canary Classics
Magazine Review Date: 6/2010
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 62
Mastering:
Stereo
Catalogue Number: CC08

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra |
Joseph Haydn, Composer
Gil Shaham, Violin Joseph Haydn, Composer Sejong Soloists |
Octet for strings |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Gil Shaham, Violin Sejong Soloists |
Author: David Threasher
The couplings are two of Haydn’s three extant violin concertos, also early works, although “early” for Haydn means he was around twice the age of Octet-period Mendelssohn. Shaham’s rich violin tone is a boon in these works, especially in the central slow movements, making this a viable modern-instrument alternative (with fairly inoffensive harpsichord continuo) to the recent Podger in No 1 (Channel Classics, 12/09) or the older Standage/Pinnock (Archiv, 5/89) and Wallfisch (Virgin, 11/92R). Stephen Somary’s otherwise comprehensive booklet-note goes through all manner of contortions to concoct a link between Haydn’s slight concertos and the still-remarkable genius of Mendelssohn’s teenage masterpiece.
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