When the ASMF Chamber Ensemble recorded Mendelssohn's Octet last year only one player remained who could have had memories of the 1978 ASMF/Philips recording listed above. The almost complete change of personnel has brought a very different new performance. In the first movement there is a slightly reserved quality in the playing: the music is performed in straightforward, uncomplicated fashion but with a slight lack of feeling and personality, so that Mendelssohn's youthful inspiration is not given its due. In the slow movement the tempo is a little on the fast side, and the players move the music on in 2 slightly nervous, hurried manner, as if they are too concerned to prevent a feeling of sluggishness. Their somewhat distant, uninvolved approach continues in the nimbly played Scherzo, and a feeling of busyness, but not much else, pervades the finale. Chandos have provided a good, quite spacious recording, but I'm afraid that this new ASMF version is not nearly so successful as the Philips, which brings out the fresh, eager, yet tender qualities in Mendelssohn's music much more vividly. The coupling there is a very good version of Mendelssohn's String Quintet, Op. 87. Decca's mid-price Vienna Octet release dates from 1972. There is a slight edge in the remastered sound, but the playing is attractively alert and affectionate. This disc also contains a delightful performance of Beethoven's Septet.
Collectors of unusual repertoire will welcome the appearance of Raff's Octet. This is a pleasant accomplished, but somewhat meandering work whose ideas tend to show promise and then burn out rather quickly. Here the ASMF players seem more stimulated by the unusual repertoire and provide a very sympathetic, attractive Performance.'