Mendelssohn Octet in E Flat Major, Op. 20

From 1825-1827, Mendelssohn wrote 3 of his most beloved and most
played works: his Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, his String
Quartet, Op. 13, and the piece were going to talk about today,
his Octet. What is truly astonishing about these three pieces is
that they were all written before Mendelssohn turned 18 years
old. Mendelssohn was the greatest prodigy in the history of
Western Classical Music, writing music so spectacular at such a
young age that it almost overshadows his later, more mature,
works. In my opinion, the greatest of these three towering early
pieces from Mendelssohn is his octet. It is a piece of
structural perfection, ingenuity, innovation, and most of all, it
is a piece of such youthful enthusiasm that it is impossible to
not put a smile on your face. We'll talk all about this piece
today, from its soaring first movement, to its contemplative
second movement, the brilliant third movement, and the bubbling
last movement. Let's discuss this miracle of a piece together -
join us!