Belcea & Ébène Quartet: Octets by Mendelssohn and Enescu

Belcea and Ébène

An unprecedented opulence, two of the best quartets in the world sharing the stage! The press about the Belcea Quartet: 'The purity of sound and perfect intonation have distinguished this quartet from others from the start.' And about Quatuor Ébène: 'These players communicate almost telepathically; without nods, gestures or audible breath, their voices merge together.' In both octets of this concerto, the players change parts.

Mendelssohn and Enescu

Are two quartets more beautiful than one? In two brilliant young works, Enescu and Mendelssohn seem to argue for this statement. Enescu wrote his Octet at nineteen, shortly after completing his studies at the Paris Conservatoire. Mendelssohn was sixteen when he christened his Octet in the large family home in Berlin. In addition to uninhibited energy, both masterpieces show an incredible mastery of the compositional craft.