Franz Schubert: Octet D 803 – Scharoun Ensemble Berlin

Schubert’s Octet in F Major, D 803 stands as one of the crowning achievements of chamber music – an expansive, symphonic vision distilled into eight voices. For the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin, this masterpiece lies at the very heart of their artistic identity.

Founded in 1983 by members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the ensemble takes its name from Hans Scharoun, architect of the Berlin Philharmonie, whose Kammermusiksaal has been their musical home since their very first public performance – and the venue of this recording. Shaped by decades of deep familiarity, the Octet reveals Schubert’s entire emotional world: joy and exuberance, tenderness and nostalgia, fear and defiance, all unfolding across what violinist Rachel Schmidt calls “one glorious hour of music” that portrays an entire life.

This new recording marks a significant moment in the ensemble’s history. Having performed the Octet close to 500 times and recorded it once before, the Scharoun Ensemble now returns to its signature work to document a new generation of players, with founding member and double bass player Peter Riegelbauer. Captured in the Philharmonie’s Chamber Music Hall, the performance combines interpretative maturity with renewed freshness, allowing Schubert’s extraordinary range of colour and dramatic depth to shine. With its intimate connection to place, tradition, and living musical continuity, this recording offers a definitive and deeply personal account of one of the most beloved works in the chamber repertoire.