SACD2707 貝多芬/貝爾瓦德:七重奏 威格摩爾獨奏家合奏團 Wigmore Soloists / Beethoven Berwald: Septets (BIS)

貝多芬: 降E大調七重奏 / 法蘭茲.貝爾瓦德: 降B大調大七重奏

威格摩爾獨奏家合奏團

For their latest project on BIS, the Wigmore Soloists perform two works with unusual instrumentation: Beethoven's and Berwald's septets for violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, bassoon and horn. If the young Beethoven did not aspire to profundity in his own Septet, he nevertheless managed to create a fine balance between light-heartedness and substance. In the tradition of serenade, this work in six movements represents Beethoven at his most warm-hearted and relaxed, yet his compositional craft and subtlety are typically sharp. As the septet achieved such fame during his lifetime, Beethoven eventually became irritated by its popularity, which he said overshadowed more mature works.

Best known for his symphonies, Swedish composer Franz Berwald also composed a septet that is in no way imitative of Beethoven's. Berwald had his own voice and his own musical expression, and his artful handling of the wind instruments deserves praises. Thanks to its attractive transparency, Berwald's Septet consistently exudes freshness thanks to its endearing musical humour and ranks as the finest of his chamber compositions.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Septet in E flat major, Op. 20 39''04

01 I. Adagio - Allegro con brio 9''50

02 II. Adagio cantabile 8''21

03 III. Tempo di menuetto 3''08

04 IV. Tema con variazioni 7''21

05 V. Scherzo 3''01

06 VI. Andante con moto alla marcia - Presto 7''23

Franz Berwald

Grand Septet in B flat major 22''14

07 I. Introduzione 7''38

08 II. Poco adagio - Prestissimo - Adagio 8''23

09 III. Finale 6''13

Album total 61''21