[USED:Cond.AB] Center City Brass Quintet On The Town

Mendelssohn, who is often thought of as a child prodigy whose primary works of impact were written before the age of twenty-five, is in actuality a man whose musical genius unfolded over a lifetime. His two Violin Concertos are an excellent example of this, having been composed at an interval of twenty-two years. The D minor Concerto, composed first, shows the prodigiousness of the young Mendelssohn, lyrical but substantive, and displaying a keen understanding of the violin. Mayumi Seiler never presupposes the youth of the composer, and performs with cunning maturity and expression.
The E minor Concerto is considered by many to be a masterpiece, though not a showpiece for the soloist. One may hear the evolution of Mendelssohn's style in the sublime slow movements and Brahms-like depth. Again, Seiler is cognizant of the context of the work, never delving into Romantic mush, but attuned to the complexities of the phrasing in Mendelssohn's themes and extended developments. The City of London Sinfonia and Richard Hickox are strong as well, and the result is some highly likable renditions.