Chandos
Pizzicato 5*

Enescu: String Octet, Piano Quintet

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Details

Composer
George Enescu
Artist
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
Format
CD
Discs
1
Label
Chandos
Released
Sep 11, 2026
Catalog #
CHAN 20379
UPC
0095115237922

About

Romanian composer George Enescu was a child prodigy, and in October 1888, aged seven, become the youngest student ever admitted to the Vienna Conservatory (and the first non-Austrian), where he graduated at the age of twelve. In addition to his career as a composer, Enescu was also an acclaimed conductor and violinist. He made his American debut in 1923 conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra, and frequently conducted both the New York Philharmonic and the Orchestre Symphonique de Paris. Enescu made numerous recordings as a violinist, of his own works and those of others: His 1949 recording of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas was very highly regarded, and as a teacher (at Mannes School of Music in New York) his students included Yehudi Menuhin, Christian Ferras, Ivry Gitlis, Arthur Grumiaux and Ida Haendel among many others). Enescu composed his Octet for Strings at the age of nineteen, taking a year and a half to complete, due to the complexity of the piece. The first performance was cancelled when, after 5 rehearsals, impresario edouard Colonne removed it from the programme as 'too risky'. The performers have chosen to complete the album with Enescu's early Piano Quintet, composed some four years before the Octet, during his time at the Paris Conservatoire. The work shows the young Enescu's reverence for his hero Brahms throughout, but also demonstrates his extraordinary command of form and texture at such an early age.

Critic reviews

  • “In both works, the Kaleidoscope Chamber Ensemble showcases the already consummate artistry of the young Enescu.”

    Pizzicato, 5 stars, September 2026

Tracklist 8 tracks

  1. 1 I. Très modéré 12:00
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Très modéré
    Duration
    12:00
    Composer
    George Enescu
    Ensemble
    Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
  2. 2 II. Très fougueux 07:30
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Très fougueux
    Duration
    07:30
    Composer
    George Enescu
    Ensemble
    Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
  3. 3 III. Lentement 09:06
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Lentement
    Duration
    09:06
    Composer
    George Enescu
    Ensemble
    Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
  4. 4 IV. Mouvement de valse bien rythmée 08:18
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Mouvement de valse bien rythmée
    Duration
    08:18
    Composer
    George Enescu
    Ensemble
    Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
  5. 5 I. Allegro moderato 08:05
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    08:05
    Composer
    George Enescu
    Ensemble
    Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
  6. 6 II. Scherzo vivace 05:28
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Scherzo vivace
    Duration
    05:28
    Composer
    George Enescu
    Ensemble
    Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
  7. 7 III. Andante 07:07
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Andante
    Duration
    07:07
    Composer
    George Enescu
    Ensemble
    Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
  8. 8 IV. Allegro con spirito 05:11
    Track
    8
    Title
    IV. Allegro con spirito
    Duration
    05:11
    Composer
    George Enescu
    Ensemble
    Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective