Beethoven & Kreutzer: Septets Manz, Plath, Klieser, Hölscher, Lee, Ioniţă, Wagner

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20:
• 1 Beethoven: Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: I. Adagio – Allegro con brio 09:41
• 2 Beethoven: Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: II. Adagio cantabile 08:28
• 3 Beethoven: Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: III. Tempo di Menuetto 03:06
• 4 Beethoven: Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: IV. Tema con variazioni. Andante 07:39
• 5 Beethoven: Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: V. Scherzo. Allegro molto e vivace 02:58
• 6 Beethoven: Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: VI. Andante con moto alla marcia – Presto 07:00
• Conradin Kreutzer (1780 - 1849): Grand Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 62:
• 7 Kreutzer: Grand Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 62: I. Adagio – Allegro 10:32
• 8 Kreutzer: Grand Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 62: II. Adagio 07:51
• 9 Kreutzer: Grand Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 62: III. Minuet. Moderato 03:53
• 10 Kreutzer: Grand Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 62: IV. Andante. Maestoso 04:26
• 11 Kreutzer: Grand Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 62: V. Scherzo. Prestissimo 03:15
• 12 Kreutzer: Grand Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 62: VI. Finale. Allegro vivace 06:32
• Total Runtime 01:15:21

Info for Beethoven & Kreutzer: Septets

The seven musicians Theo Plath, Franziska Hölscher, Sebastian Manz, Dominik Wagner, Andrei Ioniţă, Felix Klieser, and Haesue Lee announce their album, recorded on our partner label CAvi Music, in which they perform both Beethoven's and Kreutzer's Septets. Both are experimental works with six contrasting movements written in E-flat major. While Beethoven clearly indicates his intentions, Kreutzer leaves the musicians plenty of room to emerge as soloists.

The album "SEPTETS – Beethoven & Kreutzer" on the CAvi-music label. This release brings together seven outstanding soloists exploring two significant works of the chamber music repertoire: Ludwig van Beethoven's Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20, and Conradin Kreutzer's Septet in E-flat major, Op. 10. 62. The group of artists, consisting of Franziska Hölscher (violin), Sebastian Manz (clarinet), Theo Plath (bassoon), Felix Klieser (horn), Haesue Lee (viola), Andrei Ioniță (cello), and Dominik Wagner (double bass), presents an exciting juxtaposition of a well-known and a lesser-known work, both of which impress with their unique instrumentation and structure.

In Beethoven's frequently performed septet, it was primarily the tempi specified by the composer that the musicians intensively explored – and with which they now present a new, fresh, and quite risky interpretation. With Kreutzer's music, all participants made a new discovery. While this septet resembles the composition of his contemporary Beethoven in terms of instrumentation and structure, it speaks an independent and confident musical language. During the rehearsal, the seven musicians developed their own version based on Kreutzer's musical text, which will now be published by their own publishing house. The music of this composer, who is also known for his operas, has a "catchy quality," as bassoonist Theo Plath notes. The result demonstrates the experience and musical flair that each of these top musicians brings to the table.

This chamber music "supergroup" was assembled by violinist Franziska Hölscher and clarinetist Sebastian Manz. The two artists, who have worked closely together since their time as students in Lübeck, were the driving force behind this project. Each soloist in this group contributes a unique and individual sound—but even during the first rehearsals, they began to merge into a single musical unit. At that time, no one even considered recording a CD. Only after the ensemble had refined and consolidated its playing after extensive concert tours did the seven venture into the recording studio in July 2024.

Beethoven's Septet, composed in 1799, is a cornerstone of the classical chamber music repertoire. It reflects the young composer's innovative spirit and was written concurrently with his first symphony. Divided into six movements, the work combines symphonic sonority with the lightness of a serenade.

Conradin Kreutzer's Septet, composed in 1822, is also a gem of chamber music that deserves to be rediscovered. Kreutzer, a contemporary of Carl Maria von Weber and Heinrich Marschner, was a prolific opera composer whose chamber music is often overshadowed by his stage works. The musicians of the ensemble particularly value the stylistic independence and melodic diversity that Kreutzer develops in his work. These qualities make the Septet a valuable addition to the chamber music repertoire.

The recordings for the album took place in the Bavarian Radio studio. A contemporary and bold exploration of the two works resulted in an interpretation that sheds new light on Beethoven's well-known composition and makes Kreutzer's work a discovery for listeners. The album is thus not only a musical experience, but also an important contribution to the revival of a lesser-known masterpiece of chamber music.

Sebastian Manz, clarinet
Theo Plath, bassoon
Felix Klieser, horn
Franziska Hölscher, violin
Haesue Lee, viola
Andrei Ionita, cello
Dominik Wagner, double bass

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Booklet for Beethoven & Kreutzer: Septets