Lloyd Van’t Hoff  clarinet
Emma Gregan  horn
Mark Gaydon  bassoon
Elizabeth Layton  violin
Stephen King  viola
Thomas Marlin  cello
Rob Nairn  double bass

Beethoven  Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20

An all-star ensemble of Elder Conservatorium staff performing one of Beethoven’s most popular works. “That damned thing… I wish it were burnt” – Beethoven fumed over this septet, not from lack of audience appreciation but because it was such a hit he felt that it was overshadowing his more ground-breaking works. Although written with a strong eye to commercial success, he was still somewhat revolutionary here, featuring more than one wind instrument with strings and allowing them all (apart from the bass) solo passages.