Was it a deliberate choice when Conradin Kreutzer and Friedrich Witt composed their septets in the wake of the much more famous Beethoven? But these two works are no less impressive than their famous colleague's: Both manage to entertain in a witty way, as demonstrated by the lively recording with the renowned Charis Ensemble, now re-released after a long absence in MDG's "Preziosa" series.

The charm of both works immediately captivates the listener. Themes and motifs stick quickly in memory, as if casually tossed off, and the excellent instrumentation of the Charis Ensemble manages to present even the virtuosic passages with the necessary refinement.

E.T.A. Hoffmann recognized Witt's talent early on: he knew how to fill his compositions "not so much with depth as with the highest possible degree of charm" and thus composed for a broad audience. Beethoven made similar remarks about his own septet.

Uncovering the value of the unknown has always been a specialty of MDG. The "Preziosa" series presents selected treasures from nearly half a century of label history, lovingly curated and enriched with stories about the making of the recordings. Enjoy!

Reviews

H. Arnold in Musikmarkt no. 3/87: "The ensemble, which has been playing together for several years, is characterized by excellent chamber music qualities: tonal balance and delicacy of all participants, as well as clear audibility down to the smallest detail in all passages. An excellent overall impression, which was also effectively captured by the recording technique."