Mendelssohn's Quartets via the Emerson Quartet

F. Mendelssohn, Complete String Quartets & Octet, Emerson String Quartet DG

There is Mendelssohn (String Quartets complete—plus Octet, the Emerson playing with themselves) from the Emerson Quartet. That's very nice and sounds good on a great stereo. Criticisms? Hardly. Who needs gusto when you can have perfect intonation. Who needs esprit when you can have unsurpassed technical polish. If you, too, have always thought that the one thing between you and your enjoyment of Mendelssohn's music was the fact that it just never had been played quite note-perfect enough, then this is the set for you: run—don't walk—to your nearest store to get it! Aside: emotionality might be fine for Romantic repertoire, but who needs it in Mendelssohn?!

Alternatives of the highest caliber are available from the Ysaÿe and Tallich Quartets.

See also: "Mendelssohn Quartets Galore"