Hyperion
1992
Beethoven: Septet In E Flat; Sextet In E Flat
About This Album
Beethoven's Septet for clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello, and bass was his most popular work during his lifetime, and in this ingratiating performance by the Gaudier Ensemble, it's easy to understand why. All the elements of a popular hit -- catchy tunes, snappy rhythms, brilliant colors, and especially instant memorability -- are present in the Septet, but in the wrong performance, these same qualities can easily seem insufferably superficial. The Gaudier's performance, however, finds the humanity in its catchy tunes, the resonance in its snappy rhythms, the depth of its brilliant colors, and the profundity of its instant memorability. Every instrument alone has its own expressive character, yet at the same time, all the instruments together form a unified ensemble. The Gaudier's performance of Beethoven Sextet for two horns, two violins, viola, and cello is just as fine. The liveliness of the rhythm, the balance of the strings with horns, and particularly the richly burnished but rustic quality of the ensemble matches the music. Hyperion's reissue of the 1991 recording is lush, warm, and detailed. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide
Track List

Septet For Strings & Woodwinds In E Flat Major, Op. 20
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Sextet For 2 Horns & String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 81b
7.
8.
9.