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Article: Pieces for Eight; Two Interpretations of Mendelssohn's Octet
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- October 15, 1996
- Author:
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Felix Mendelssohn's Octet is a work that exhausts one's
superlatives. From the magic, mysterious rustling that begins the
piece (Wordsworth's "impulse from a vernal wood") through the
exuberant contrapuntal romp that brings it to a close half an hour
later, the Octet neatly straddles the classical and romantic eras.
It manages to exemplify the aesthetic ideals of both -- combining a
deeply rooted formal perfection with an unmistakable individualism
and a sense of pushing beyond traditional molds.
Over the weekend, Washington had the opportunity to hear
two separate performances of the Octet, the first on Saturday night
at Dumbarton Church, the second Sunday afternoon at the ...