Mendelssohn X Files

Auditorio de Tenerife’s Chamber Music Cycle continues with the concert Mendelssohn X Files by double bassist Uxía Martínez Botana as part of a string quartet.

Mendelssohn X Files constitutes a commitment to the unknown, the unconventional, and the intransigent nature of musical art. Transformation is the most significant characteristic of human development, and the same may be said of music. Leaving aside well-established conventions, we shall consider the double bass in its purest form within the context of chamber music, specifically the string quartet. This marks a transformative shift in the art of interpreting the bass across diverse scenarios, including chamber music, solo performances, and orchestral contexts. For the first time, these elements converge in Mendelssohn’s most emotive and final composition, dedicated to the memory of his sister and reflecting the composer’s deepest emotions after learning of her death.

In contrast to the composer’s most tumultuous piece, we have sought to provide spectators with another view of his emotional landscape. The Adagio of his Op. 44 captures a moment in his life marked by personal and professional achievements, such as his flourishing career, recent marriage, and the birth of his first son. We have also selected some of Mendelssohn’s most ingenious compositions, spanning several periods of his life and compiled in Op. 81.

Uxía Martínez Botana had this to say: ‘For me, this CD reflects my most intimate and demanding efforts in the art of playing the double bass. Accordingly, I wish to dedicate it to the memory of my brother Denis and to my parents. My deepest gratitude goes out to Gidon Kremer and our collaboration with Kremerata Baltica. The experience inspired this CD and taught me to push my limits as a bassist and musician constantly.

Uxía Martínez Botana had this to say: ‘For me, this CD reflects my most intimate and demanding efforts in the art of playing the double bass. Accordingly, I wish to dedicate it to the memory of my brother Denis and to my parents. My deepest gratitude goes out to Gidon Kremer and our collaboration with Kremerata Baltica. The experience inspired this CD and taught me to push my limits constantly as a bassist and a musician.’