BEETHOVEN
Septet in E flat major, Op. 20
String Quintet in C major, Op. 29
Sextet in E flat major, Op. 81b
SCHUBERT
Octet in F major, D. 803
Wiener Oktett
Recording Producer: Erik Smith (Beethoven: Septet; Schubert: Octet); James Mallinson (Beethoven: Sextet; Quintet)
Balance Engineers: Gordon Parry (Beethoven: Septet); Tryggvi Tryggvason (Beethoven: Sextet, Quintet); James Brown (Schubert: Octet)
Recording Location: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, March 1958 (Schubert: Octet), March 1959 (Beethoven: Septet), October 1969 (Beethoven: Sextet, Quintet)
‘highly civilised and agreeable … highly recommendable to listeners prepared to enjoy a view of the work which is leisurely both as to style – without any exaggeration of the quality – and as to finding time and space for a generous allowance of repeat-making” (Schubert) Gramophone
*** “The performance has elegance but also conveys a sparkle and a sense of enjoyment that are thoroughly exhilarating” (Schubert) Penguin Guide to CDs
‘their playing is richly eloquent [in the Beethoven String Quintet] … [the Beethoven Sextet] is impeccably played, unfailingly pleasing … the recordings which are firm and detailed, well-focused and lifelike’ Gramophone