Spanish double bassist Uxía Martínez Botana takes a bold step in her September 2025 release for Fuga Libera. In Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 44 No. 3, she replaces the traditional cello with her instrument, opening a striking new sound world.
Together with Sergei Ostrovsky and Alexander Kagan (violins) and Noémie Bialobroda (viola), she reshapes the balance of the quartet. The double bass emerges not only as a foundation but as a lyrical and expressive voice, revealing new textures while remaining faithful to Mendelssohn’s spirit.
The video features the third movement, Adagio, one of Mendelssohn’s most heartfelt slow movements. With the resonance of the double bass at its core, the music takes on unexpected weight and intimacy — a moment of stillness that becomes both tribute and reinvention.
Subscribe to our newsletter