A new 4-CD survey of the complete quartet music of Felix & Fanny Mendelssohn, on Champs Hill Records, featuring the finest young, up-and-coming string quartets in some of Mendelssohn’s wonderful chamber music - each quartet is performed by a different young ensemble.

This ambitious project fulfils two of the key aims of the label - to release less-recorded repertoire and to help young musicians.

Included is the posthumously published String Quartet in E flat, written by Mendelssohn at the age of 14. Also included are the 12 Fugues for String Quartet (written when he was 12); Four Pieces for String Quartet (which - never intended as a collection - include the middle two movements of the quartet he left unfinished on his death in 1847); and Fanny Mendelssohn’s String Quartet.

This is music that was admired in the 19th century for the assured writing, structure and fine aristocratic style. The release revitalises this important chamber music repertoire, for a whole generation of performers and listeners alike.

Bonus: the song Frage (Ist es Wahr?), the inspiration for Quartet No.2, sung by Sophie Bevan accompanied by Julian Milford.


Contents:
CD 1
• String Quartet Op.posth in E flat minor
Benyounes Quartet

• String Quartet No 2 in A minor Op.13
Saconni Quartet

• Frage (Is es Wahr?) Op.9 No.1
Sophie Bevan, Julian Milford

CD 2
• String Quartet No.1 in E flat major Op.12
Idomeneo Quartet

• String Quartet No.3 in D major Op.44 No.1
Navarra Quartet

• String Quartet No.4 in E minor Op.44 No.2
Castalian Quartet

CD 3
• String Quartet No.5 In E flat major Op.44 No.3
Piatti Quartet

• String Quartet No.6 in F minor Op.80
Badke Quartet

CD 4
• Four Pieces for String Quartet Op.81
Artea Quartet

• 12 Fugen fur Streichquartett
Wu Quartet

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel
• String Quartet in E flat major
Cavaleri Quartet