Episode 45: Mostly Mendelssohn

This episode features some of the great works by the “Renaissance Man of the Romantic Generation,” Felix Mendelssohn, including the shimmering Octet, a brooding String Quartet, and a pair of piano trios by both Felix and his sister Fanny Mendelssohn. This Episode’s Playlist Felix Mendelssohn: Song Without Words, Op. 109 Juan-Salvador Carrasco, cello | Lynne Mackey, piano South Market Stage, Grace Christian School, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 04.22.2022 Mendelssohn: Octet for Strings in E-flat, Op. 20 I. Allegro Moderato ma con fuoco Strauss Shi, violin | Becca Kasdan, violin | Daniel Kim, violin | Carmen Johnson-Pajaro, violin | Ian Niederhoffer, viola | Peter Cho, viola | Allegra Whiting, cello | Ayoun (Alex) Kim, cello Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.26.2015 Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44 No.1 I. Molto Allegro Vivace [excerpt] Rachell Wong, violin | Shuxiang Yang, violin | Stephanie Block, viola | Ben Fried, cello Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.20.2016 Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80 I. Allegro Molto Kenneth Naito, violin | Ria Honda, violin | Matt Cohen, viola | Dominic Lee, cello Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center, American University, Washington, DC Heifetz Institute Recording | 05.05.2019 Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 11 III. Lied. Allegretto Yezu Woo, violin | Noémie Raymond-Friset, cello | Michel-Alexandre Broekaert, piano South Market Stage, Grace Christian School, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 03.25.2022 Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 49 IV. Finale. Allegro assai appassionato Ria Honda, violin | Dominic Lee, cello | Zhenni Li-Cohen, piano Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center, American University, Washington, DC Heifetz Institute Recording | 05.05.2019 Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2 II. Scherzo [excerpt] Phoenix Quartet: Ilkhom Mukhiddinov, violin | Hyun Ji Lee, violin | Arielle Fentress, viola | Elliott Kim, cello Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.06.2023 Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 II. Andante III. Allegretto non troppo – Allegro molto vivace Ji-Won Song, violin | Hui-Chaun Chen, piano Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.19.2015 Go Deeper Leave it to the folks at Classic FM to share with us 15 Facts about Felix Mendelssohn,  including his  praise from Queen Victoria: “The most amiable man. He was quite worshipped by those who knew him intimately, & we have so much appreciated & admired his wonderfully beautiful compositions.” Heifetz alum Ian Niederhoffer, who you hear introducing and performing the Mendelssohn Octet in this episode, now directs his own chamber orchestra in New York called Parlando. Their next concert features fellow Heifetz alum, violinist Geneva Lewis. This episode is devoted to music both by Felix and his sister Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, whose talents as a composer in her own right are receiving long-overdue recognition.