Mendelssohn: Sextet in D major for Piano, Violin, Two Violas, Cello, and Bass, Op. 110

SOMETHING TO KNOW:

The 15-year-old Mendelssohn wrote this sextet to showcase both his advanced compositional skill and his virtuosity on the piano.

SOMETHING TO LISTEN FOR:

It is unknown why Mendelssohn chose this unusual instrumentation, but he may have wanted lower strings to better feature the piano in the higher register.

Recorded live in Alice Tully Hall on October 20, 2015.
Video produced by Ibis Productions.