Mendelssohn: Octet
Quatuor Ébène, Belcea Quartet
Erato 5021732997296 (CD). 2026. Fabrice Planchat, prod., eng.
Performance ***
Sonics ****
The popular Mendelssohn begins forthrightly but uneasily: The main lines ought to stand in sharper relief. As the harmonies become more conflicted, the sonority has nowhere to go. After a minute or so, everyone settles in, though the dry, unalluring tone remains a problem throughout. The players shift moods on a dime, with unmarked Luftpausen effectively separating the sections. The agitated development, wandering into…