The Seven Words are a composition which Joseph Haydn was commissioned to write. They were intended to be performed in churches, with each of the seven pieces following a short text or sermon by the priest. The texts between the pieces of music on this recording reflect the original plan and "performance practice". The role of the priest was played by the famous rhetorician Walter Jens.

Gerrit Zitterbart is a highly capable pianist who takes on a great deal. His cleverly assembled Chopin recital [...] leaves nothing to be desired and sets a shining example of musical creativity. Nothing of melodic, harmonic or rhythmical significance has been left out; compositional idiosyncrasies have been presented in a precise and decisive way, contexts sensitively and cleverly outlined. There's not a moment of tedium. (Der Musikmarkt)

In the finale [The Abegg Trio] plays the hundred bars written by Schubert which impose on the movement a completely different form and - due to the repeated quotation of the sombre slow movement - expression. The fact that the music never loses balance and gains that heavenly length once enthusiastically admired by Schumann, is the best reference one could make to the ensemble; and if anyone does not like this addition, they can listen to the movement in it's more usual form as an encore.

Old and new music for solo flute "An exciting musical journey which sharpens the senses for questions of recording aesthetics." (FonoForum)

This recording is another one of those gimmick" discs that Tacet is constantly throwing our way, with the end result being some seriously good listening for everyone. The concept here has the violinist, Saschko Gawriloff, playing seven different violins, of different vintages, in a kind of "show-down." All seven violins are used to play the Sarabande movement from Bach's Partita No. 2 in D, and then several of the individual violins are used for a variety of pieces including works from Veracini, Kreisler, Dvorak, Paganini and Webern. It's much more than just an exercise, hearing the seven instruments back-to-back playing Bach, and really interesting how very different they all do sound, indeed! The remaining tracks are all accompanied by Kira Ratner on piano, and all tracks are recorded using vintage tube microphones. The sound quality is uniformly superb, regardless of which layer you choose to listen to, though the SACD tracks get my nod for best overall sound. As with the Bach disc above, the multichannel layer uses the surround channels for additional ambience, which does help provide an improved perception of image depth. The supplied booklet has numerous photos, along with a brief history of each violin's maker. So which of the seven violins is the big winner? That's hard to say ? they all have their own uniquely impressive musical qualities ? but I don't think it's a coincidence that soloist Saschko Gawriloff chose three of the Cremona violins for use in three of the five additional works found on the disc. Whether the Guarneri, Stradivari or Amati was in use, each sang with a beauty and purity of tone that was just unmatched by the rest of the competition. Maybe there was something in the water, or the soil that the trees grew in that provided the wood for these incredible instruments ? whatever, nothing in modern times comes even close. Highly recommended." Tom Gibbs Total playing time: 52'40

Here the young Abegg Trio, already respected thanks to excellent recordings, presents it's masterpiece: The three musicians manage to create a musical balance which respects Mozart's intention; and this on a modern grand piano. The pianist Gerrit Zitterbart proves his mettle as a high-grade Mozart pianist [...]. And in this musical delicacy with dynamically bright variety and clear, unadorned recording, which sounds utterly natural, this new production overshadows the older one by the Beaux-Arts Trio [...]. a benchmark production." (stereoplay)