BIS offers arguably the finest available performances of Mendelssohn’s complete string symphonies (including the full orchestra version of No. 8) on a single SACD lasting more than four hours. This means that the disc is only playable on an SACD player, but if you own one and want this music, you can’t possibly do better. The Amsterdam Sinfonietta plays magnificently throughout, while Lev Markiz is particularly adept at maintaining rhythmic and textural interest in the first half-dozen symphonies, the most derivative and least characteristic music. But really, all the performances are superb, and they are extremely well recorded too. There’s also a companion disc containing all of Mendelssohn’s concertos. It’s not as uniformly excellent as this release, but it’s also an astonishing bargain, so consider this notice an easy recommendation for both reissues–that is, as I said, if you’re technically equipped to play them. [1/30/2008]
