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Octet
Schubert, Cleveland Octet
Octet
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (6) - Disc #1

Schubert's sunny Octet is sort of an overstuffed version of Beethoven's popular Septet. Scored for a bountiful array of strings and winds, and sporting six full-length movements that collectively last nearly an hour, the p...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Schubert, Cleveland Octet
Title: Octet
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sony
Release Date: 9/24/1996
Genre: Classical
Style: Chamber Music
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 074646265529

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Schubert's sunny Octet is sort of an overstuffed version of Beethoven's popular Septet. Scored for a bountiful array of strings and winds, and sporting six full-length movements that collectively last nearly an hour, the piece is another in the great tradition of Serenade music, so effectively cultivated by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and dozens of other minor composers. Beethoven's contribution to the genre, the Septet, turned out to be so much more popular than his more serious works that he grew to hate the piece. Schubert's avowed aim, by contrast, was just this sort of popularity, and he was surely pleased with his success, as he no doubt would have been by this genial performance. --David Hurwitz

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CD Reviews

Great Piece, Bad Performance
Bonzo | 03/03/2002
(2 out of 5 stars)

"This is one amazing piece. However, the strings in this recording are almost always out of tune, something unexpected for members of the great Cleveland orchestra. Some of the wind playing is beautiful, but that does not make up for the general high-school orchestra sound of the ensemble."
Perfection
S. Greer | Tallahassee, FL | 06/21/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not one to usually let technical flaws on the part of the players pass without a fuss. But here in this absolutely crystalline and Danube-easy performance of Schubert's Octet, I must excuse first violinist Erich Eichorn and his occasional lapses in articulation and intonation. (Even so, I must say, Eichorn does not commit as many crimes as you might think - some of his apparent intonation difficulties seem on repeated listening to be intentional effects.) Otherwise, this recording is a polished gem. The wind players are divine. They possess greater beauty of tone and ease of play than those on any other recording I have ever heard, including Oistrakh. The pacing and blend of the ensemble is unrivaled anywhere, which is the main reason I choose this recording of this piece as my favorite; I suppose playing in the same orchestra helps matters. In short, get Oistrakh or Kremer for all the correct notes, but get this recording for the "real deal" - the soul of Schubert. The other recordings might be a tad more exacting, but this one really proves that Schubert was on the road to sit beside Mozart."
Don't pass this one by
Bonzo | Anywhere | 06/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is a fine recording of schubert's famous octet. first of all the sound quality is excellent-i compared back to back with recordings on virgin classics as well as phillips and found this one far superior. i can also assure you that everyone is in tune and if you hear any sparrows close you window. thanks for reading."