Mendelssohn, Barber, and music for two pianists

Felix Mendelssohn was a child prodigy on the level of Mozart. When he was 16 he composed his Octet, blending youthful exuberance with a maturity and sophistication of style that helped launch his international career due to the sheer charm of the music, including the Faust-inspired scherzo, with its flitting melodies and lighter-than-air sensations, a particular specialty of Mendelssohn’s. Completing the program are American composer Samuel Barbe...