Schubert Octet in F, D803. Berlin Soloists (Karl Leister, cl; Milan Turcovic, bn; Radovan Vlatikovic, hn; Bernd Gallermann, Bernhard Hartog, vns; Wolfram Christ, va; Jorg Baumann, vc; Kalus Stoll, db).

Teldec Digital Experience (Mid  price) (CD) 4509-91448-2 (63 minutes: DDD). From 6 44258 (9/89).

Alan Sanders liked this performance when it came out four years ago, finding in it "a pleasing warmth" and, in the slow movement, "the most affecting beauty of phrase and tone" from the clarinettist Karl Leister. I readily concur with all this for here is intelligent and warm-hearted playing by eight fine instrumentalists. with well-chosen tempos, nicely judged textures and shapely phrasing. For my taste, Radovan Vlatikovic's horn tone is a touch too blandly rounded in the eastern-European way, but he still plays effectively and blends well with his colleagues. Rightly, the Berlin Soloists observe the first movement's exposition repeat, but although it lasts the best part of 15 minutes (the whole work, after all, has six movements and lasts an hour), they and Schubert allow no longueurs and as played here it has many persuasively felicitous passages, such as the gentle lead into the recapitulation beginning at 10'24".

One's praise may continue thereafter, too, for the scherzo third movement bounds along with verve and elegance, the variation-form Andante has charm without sentimentality, and the gently lilting minuet and vivid finale are no less stylish. The recording has excellent tonal quality and balance, and overall this is a very desirable mid-price version of Schubert's Octet. However, AS did say—and I agree—that for an even more Viennese-sounding account of this piece, one might choose the version by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, which is also well recorded.

CH