Beethoven’s Septet in E flat major was first performed as background music at an aristocratic tea-party in 1800. Filled with Mozartean charm and elegance, the piece has gone on to become one of the most popular septets ever written. The work is full of both colourful musical dialogue and melodic and harmonic richness. It cleverly explores the vast array of colours and sonorities created through the intriguing and unique scoring of clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and double bass. This work is coupled with the ever-popular Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor by Rachmaninoff, written when he was a nineteen year old student. Also included is Cimarosa’s Concerto for Clarinet and Strings. Originally for oboe, this delightful work is re-imagined to showcase the virtuosic and lyrical side of the clarinet.