Beethoven: Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20 and Andante & Variations in D Major, WoO 44b

Featuring

Volker Hartung
Oleg Tchastikov
Artem Mikaelyan
Alexej Sviatlovsky
Dmitry Krasnik
Miltos Mumulides

St. Petersburg Academic Symphony Orchestra
Ludwig van Beethoven

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Composer Biography

Ludwig van Beethoven, unlike composers before him, was a free and highly respected artist who understood how to sell his works at a high price.

Composition History

Beethoven's Septet in E flat major op. 20 was sketched in 1799 and premiered with great success on December 20, 1799, at the Palais of Prince Joseph von Schwarzenberg in Vienna.

Performer Biography

Miltos Mumulides, the principal clarinetist of the Cologne New Philharmonic, arranged Beethoven's Andante and Variations for Clarinet and String Orchestra, which is featured on this album.

Composer Biography

Beethoven wrote several works for mandolin and piano in 1796 for Countess Josephine von Clary-Aldringen, a known singer and mandolin player, during a visit to Prague.

Cultural Impact

The Septet in E flat major op. 20 was one of Beethoven's most popular works, leading to numerous arrangements, including one by Beethoven himself as a trio.

Interpretation

Conductor Arturo Toscanini arranged Beethoven's Septet for full string orchestra for his 1939 performances in New York, using 10 violins, 5 violas, 5 cellos, and 3 double basses to balance the strong winds.

Compositional Technique

Beethoven's Septet features an unusual instrumentation with single clarinet, horn, and bassoon, rather than the customary pairs of wind instruments, and gives important solo passages to the clarinet.