Quintett Für Klavier, Oboe, Klarinette, Horn Und Fagott Es-dur Op. 16 / Sonate Für Klavier Und Horn F-dur Op. 17

Released by the East German state-owned label ETERNA in 1976, this recording features Ludwig van Beethoven’s Quintet for Piano and Winds, Op. 16, and the Sonata for Piano and Horn, Op. 17. The production highlights the talent of chamber musicians associated with the Dresden State Orchestra, including pianist Amadeus Webersinke and hornist Peter Damm. It reflects ETERNA’s mission to document the classical canon through the lens of performers from the German Democratic Republic, often emphasizing a disciplined, structurally precise approach to the Classical repertoire.

Beethoven composed his Quintet in 1796, inspired by Mozart’s quintet for the same instrumentation. It serves as a prime example of his early style, balancing virtuosic piano writing with the distinct timbres of the oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon. The Op. 17 Sonata, written shortly after for the virtuoso horn player Giovanni Punto, remains a foundational work for the instrument. This specific pressing is highly regarded by collectors for the technical proficiency of the ensemble and the warm, detailed acoustic quality that became a hallmark of ETERNA’s chamber music catalog during the 1970s.