About this episode
An exploration of the impact that Mendelssohn's Octet has had on different people's lives, demonstrating the healing power of music in a variety of situations around the world. Felix Mendelssohn wrote his Octet for double string quartet in 1825 aged just 16. Despite his youth, this is a mature and brilliant piece of music described by our interviewees as "carnivalesque", "a romp", "a party". Choreographer Bill T Jones describes the way in which the Octet showed his company how to keep living during the onslaught of AIDS in the 1980's. Cellist Raphael and violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch talk about falling in love whilst learning this music in the 1970's. South Korean Lisa Kim tells a story about going on tour with the New York Philharmonic to North Korea and her intense fear and mistrust being replaced by wonder when they played the Octet with a North Korean Quartet. And Matthew Trusler describes the importance of playing this work after the death of his son. The featured recording of the Mendelssohn Octet by the Emerson String Quartet on Deutsche Gramophon. Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal. Producer: Rosie Boulton First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2011.