MENDELSSOHN: String Quartet in F minor - ChamberFest Cleveland (2019)

FELIX MENDELSSOHN
String Quartet in F minor, Op. 80
Alexi Kenney, violin 1
Nathan Meltzer, violin 2
Hsin-Yun Huang, viola
Nicholas Canellakis, cello
Performed on ChamberFest Cleveland, Season 8
Mixon Hall, Cleveland Institute of Music
June 22, 2019
chamberfestcleveland.com/
Video Production:
Erica Brenner Productions
Cameras: Ken Wendt, Emil Agopian, Erica Brenner
Editing: Erica Brenner
www.ericabrennerproductions.com/
Audio Engineer: Bruce Egre, Azica Records
azica.com/

[@y.u.r.i7452]

2nd at 7:45 3rd 12:55 4th 21:34 Very nice playing

[@tomboyer5608]

Op. 80 was written after the sudden death of Mendelssohn's beloved older sister Fanny, which broke him emotionally and maybe physically. Felix Mendelssohn himself died a few months later before this quartet could be refined or performed. Premature strokes ran in the Mendelssohn family (today they might be prevented with blood pressure meds). Some people don't like to play this quartet because it is such a raw expression of unmitigated grief. I almost feel like I am trespassing on Mendelssohn's anguish. However the music is wonderful. The beautiful, lyrical slow movement with the falling (maybe dying) motif is a song of love for his sister -- one of Mendelssohn's greatest slow movements. The rest of the quartet reflects shock, anger, denial -- many of the stages of grief. Three movements stay in F minor which is every unusual. I personally love the scherzo which features a wonderful sycopated violin line that reminds you of someone's halting voice, with a very cool growling viola/cello duet in the trio (the middle section). As a violinist I really enjoy the 1st part which is not excessively virtuosic but ends two movements with beautifully written passionate riffs that could be gypsy or klezmer in origin. It is really, really fun to play. Mendelssohn usually employed a lengthy process of pre-performance readings of his music with editing and refinement often suggested by the players. That did not happen in this case so this quartet has some awkward spots and some passages he would have undoubtedly revised or shortened if he had lived longer.

[@justforever96]

I had no idea what that was the first time I heard it, but I knew it was something very special. I know exactly which piece you are taking about without even checking. I certainly like that piece, that is the kind of power in music that really blows me away.

[@luizamsalgado]

Superb and illuminating comment, many thanks!

[@fuzfyy]

thank you for the information

[@danielpincus221]

Has anyone taken the plunge and edited it?

[@dragondaemonis3801]

The climax at 26:25 is one of my favourite moments in any piece of chamber music ever. Perhaps the best performance of this masterpiece, technical perfection aside, it has so much raw emotion in it it really conveys what Mendelssohn poured in this tremendous work.

[@iggyreilly2463]

My favorite performance of this wonderful piece. Only Mendelssohn could have written it, yet it's the most un-Mendelssohnian of his chamber works. With the exception of the tender third movement, the rest is brusque, anguished, angry, searching, unstable to the point of hysteria. These four artists capture the atmosphere perfectly. So satisfying!

[@justforever96]

I was a little disappointed when I found out the rest of his work wasn't like this. I heard this on a mix and thought "now this is more like it, I had no idea that this what Mendelssohn sounded like!" But mostly he doesn't. Good, but not like this. So I guess this is just a unique piece, and should be appreciated as such. Maybe that is as it should be.

[@BillyBob-xi9ih]

@@justforever96 I feel ya, I’m not the biggest Mendelssohn fan but this piece can get it lol

[@willyhwang1059]

the first movement makes me angry anxious sad and depressed at the same time.

[@billinrio]

Try to get yourself together.

[@sterriedaanie7218]

That's exactly how Mendelssohn felt when he composed this piece after the passing away of Fanny, his sister.

[@mohdhaziqdanish3971]

The second is like Dracula theme 😁😁😁

[@arguetanavarro3923]

Its called ptsd

[@user-ib5pn4fr1i]

@@sterriedaanie7218、

[@vainamonensampo3230]

C'est très romantique, cette œuvre composée en l'hommage de sa sœur Fanny en mai 1847, Mendelssohn mourra quelques mois en octobre de la même année, juste après elle.

[@luizamsalgado]

If, afther this wonderful performance of Mendelsohn SQ 6, Alexi Kenney, Nathan Meltzer, Hsin-Yun Huang, Nicholas Canellakis, decided to form a String Quartet (without renouncing other personal musical activities) They Would Surely become a Legendary String Quartet !

[@vincentheidt6779]

This is in the top 2 of my favorite string quartets I've ever seen / heard. I saw the Chiara string quartet play Shubert death and the maiden and I was in tears. This performance had me in tears nearly the entire time. Alexi is so talented and the group is so perfectly in tune to each other. Amazing, inspiring and the reason I play my instrument.

[@billinrio]

Hope you're able to play in spite of the tears.

[@luizamsalgado]

Most amazing, my favest, arguably the best interpretation of this masterpiece! Great and painful music, and true SQ music writing too ! The 3rd movement is so poignant! It is like Felix is remembering the happy and good times of childhood with his beloved sister Fanny to whom he composed this great and incredible quartet as a Requiem. Moving, and unquestionably a masterpiece that would make Beethoven the master of the medium really feel moved and amazed by this great music

[@mariangodoy5044]

There is so muuuuch caring and feeling in this piece, this was made for the most incredible feeling of realizing the wonder of life.

[@grcj1893]

I love Alexi Kenny, a very passionate deep-soul young violinist!!

[@gigogrom216]

8:44 bless you

[@federica3118]

The second movement ❤❤❤🎻😈

[@brunomillot2919]

This was amazing. Pure electricity!

[@stephenhunt8756]

Simply superb. A show of maturity and all-round musicianship which would be hard to beat by an internationally recognised 'great' ensemble. ChamberFest Cleveland, thank you and more please.

[@nickyork8901]

Among many super details, there is a lovely change of tone colour to a more veiled sound for the second subject in the first movement. The angst can be rather unrelenting without this variation of sound colours.

[@seanhilton6038]

Amazing piece, stunning performance

[@amybudish2654]

Agree! These isolated clips enable one to appreciate each facet of the gem that is Chamberfest!

[@justforever96]

So nailed this. Perfect. I think this is the same recording that I first heard, I think it is on one of these silly-name KZbin classical mixes. I swear it was this exact recording, just the audio. 2nd movement only though.

[@enter_name5822]

I found it there and came here lol

[@cesarmanuelruiz-carocaipo7112]

Amazing piece, Mendelssohn is so Beautiful. Bravo!!!

[@andriesbartels3454]

Beautyful. Played with passion and temperament.

[@silviojunior6709]

26:01 26:36 perfect entries of the 2nd violin 🤍🥴🥴

[@vekkdrums]

this is the finest version i have ever heard. this is a true gem!! Bravo!

[@ethanb2554]

Heard the Emerson?

[@vekkdrums]

@@ethanb2554 yes! I still prefer this one

[@marcosborges5353]

18:20 😭😭😭😭😭

[@danielpincus221]

I'm listening to this the morning after learning that mucb beloved musician Thomas Muraco passed away yesterday. Raw.

[@oeneroorda2699]

This is a fabulous performance! Is this an occasional string quartet or have they made recordings?

[@inspiredbyteaching]

Really phenomenal performance!

[@kowalityjesus]

fantastic performance

[@fredericktrabonpa5327]

Very nice playing

[@melissaschroeter161]

Strings dance. That play we must be. If passion is felt. To be that love we say we are. That go back in time to find us. If any love is found. to be the love we look for to carry us on. No one in the future can that write that disagrees, who we fought to b e to deliver us from evil.

[@balladin9200]

I love how you tried to sound mysterious and use alternate ways to express what you feel, but failed.

[@billinrio]

What????

[@59tuffy]

Una autentica maravilla

[@ericktinitana]

wonderful!

[@artisticdirector9975]

Wonderful! Bravo

[@williamsu5552]

bravo ! worth every minute

[@robertjschroff6307]

Beautiful playing!

[@nicoletezcan]

Bravo ❤️

[@cristiannarvaez4240]

excelent!!!!!!

[@dougronald561]

They also seem to get more out of the 3rd movement, which IMHO often sounds lackluster by other groups.

[@briancohen8879]

Stupendous performance!

[@ClaudeCaronPiano]

Bravoooo! :-)

[@KosteckiAdam]

Great!

[@dougronald561]

Does this ensemble have their own group name? The credits just list their individual names and say it was at the ChamberFest Cleveland. They are a terrific quartet.

[@santiagomaldonado1153]

Why terrific?

[@jdsarfo610]

@@santiagomaldonado1153 terrific is typically a good thing

[@Klara_S.]

@@santiagomaldonado1153 it's a weird English thing Horror (negative connotation): Horrific (very bad) Terror (negative connotation): Terrific (very good)

[@chii1873]

Super!

[@reinnner5964]

Savage piece

[@user-gc5ll6qt7m]

4st 21:35 🎻 very good...

[@bibiansdiary]

my blood is boilinggggg🔥

[@_ViolaNotViolin_]

“Whooooo” @ 7:36 😭

[@balladin9200]

That was like a grandpa who just got woken up by the huge sound.

wow.

[@rangescorpio]

Among tons of total garbage performances by others, this is a real diamond! Bravo!

[@billinrio]

"Garbage"? You don''t have to tear others down in order to build someone up.

[@justforever96]

@@billinrio right? I have seen some performances that really excel but very few that I would call bad. Even those squally things made by high schoolers are usually their best, and I can appreciate the skill that it does show. The worst of them are still above the average person's skill, at least they are trying to learn and can play _something_ , have put in time and effort, and in instruments that are not popularly appreciated these days. Among the more professional levels they have spent a great deal of time and pain to get what talent they do have. Not everyone can be a supreme virtuoso. When people spend a lot of effort to learn something only to be called "garbage" when they don't match up to the very best, it just discourages them. Especially since half the people doing all the insulting couldn't even play half as well themselves. Easy to sit there listening to recordings that you didn't even pay for on KZbin and insult the performers, not so easy to get up on stage and show them the way it should be done if you know so much about it.

[@adelaidefilleul2824]

7:45

[@tamarachebykina6363]

Как жаль, что Мендельсон прожил только 38 лет...

[@gigogrom216]

Многие гении умирают в возрасте от 30 до 40 лет

[@neville132bbk]

Soglasno..

[@HLireneLi]

💯

[@HLireneLi]

Liked 🙋Subbed

[@fatthor2476]

this is itense

[@kirillk6002]

1 скрипка супер

[@thuan.romoli]

Ling ling divided by four

[@RahalWalisundara]

Hello there fellow Twosetter!

[@rangescorpio]

multiplied! =)

[@billinrio]

God, I hope not!

[@user-qz6gc2rb4y]

나 이거 할거양. 말리지망.

[@contactleone2656]

Bravo ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Someone2464-]

7:46

[@thuan.romoli]

Ling ling divided by four

[@thuan.romoli]

Ling ling divided by four