Mendelssohn's String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13, begins with a quote from one of his love songs, asking 'Ist es wahr?' (Is it true?).
Composition History
Mendelssohn's earliest completed quartet, composed in 1823 when he was fourteen, was not published until 1979.
Composition History
Mendelssohn's first two numbered quartets, Op. 12 and Op. 13, were published in reverse order of their composition.
Composition History
The three quartets grouped as Op. 44 were dedicated to the Crown Prince of Sweden, reflecting Mendelssohn's status as a sought-after musician in Europe.
Composer Biography
Felix Mendelssohn, who lived from 1809 to 1847, published six string quartets during his life but actually composed seven, plus four additional quartet pieces.
Instruments
Hélène Clément, the violist of the Doric String Quartet, plays an instrument made by Francesco Guissani in 1843, previously owned by Frank Bridge and Benjamin Britten.
Performer Biography
The Doric String Quartet, formed in 1998, won First Prize at the 2008 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition.
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Mendelssohn: String Quartets, Vol. 1
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