Alban Berg: 3 Orchestral Pieces, Op. 6 / Anton Webern: 6 Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6 / Arnold Schoenberg: 5 Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16
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Composer: Alban BergComposer: Anton Webern
Composer: Arnold Schoenberg
Conductor: James Levine
Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 1990-10-25
Music Label: Deutsche Grammophon / Polygram
Music reviews of Alban Berg: 3 Orchestral Pieces, Op. 6 / Anton Webern: 6 Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6 / Arnold Schoenberg: 5 Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16
Music Review: Schoenberg's tree of 20th century orchestral music
Rating: 3 Stars
This collection, from DG circa 1987 and now reinvented through Arkiv Music's re-burn system, is one of few recording that puts together the orchestral pieces of 12 tone master Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) and his two most notable pupils, Alban Berg (1885-1935) and Anton Webern (1874-1951). With Hanns Eisler, they formed the Second Viennese School that revolutionized classical music in the early 20th century by reinventing sound through the dodecaphonic or 12 tone system.
The music here represented a revolution in 20th century thinking -- "beyond tonality," Schoenberg called it. These exercises in tonal painting and loose structure had never been heard before 1909. It led to development of the more structured 12 tone system. These opi predate 12 tone though they bear its fingerprints.
Berg is the more romantic of three composers and, therefore, vents with more heart on sleeve affect. By comparison, Schoenberg's icy, cerebral pieces cut diagonally with Webern's piquant selections somewhere between the two. Webern's Six Pieces represent his feelings on his mother's 1906 death. His half-dozen pieces are more intellectually stimulating than the Berg but often lack similar emotional involvement. Schoenberg's Five Pieces are early German Expressionist utilizing a large orchestra to create compact, even small scale, ideas.
The performances, led by the young James Levine, are committed but not among the best, in my opinion. The Berlin Philharmonic plays well for Levine but the direction, while virile and direct, lacks the subtlety and nuance others bring to this music. In addition, Levine makes little or no effort to differentiate the three composers. While all on the same trail, they were very different personalities saying different things in the music.
Recordings coupling these three performances are rare, so it's difficult to recommend one with exactly the same concert. On Philips, Antal Dorati and Harold Lawrence recreate this program and throw in Berg's "Lulu" suite in performances that lack some of the same attributes as here Vienna: Music by Schoenberg, Webern and Berg but you can buy it used for $6. Karajan's overhyped, flatline performances Schoenberg, Berg, Webern: Orchestral Works / Karajan sag in a different way; they are dull and monotonous.
I'd recommend anyone coming to this 20th century music start elsewhere. Simon Rattle, in his pre-Berlin days in Birmingham, recorded some of this repertory Schoenberg, Webern, Berg: Orchestral Works with Webern's popular "Lulu" suite in far more interesting and sympathetic performances. Levine himself did better with Berg's pieces and "Wozzeck" excerpts with the Met Orchestra Berg: Lulu Suite - Wozzeck Three Excerpts / Levine, The MET Orchestra. I think the Second Viennese School is better represented in either of these recordings than this one.
Description of Alban Berg: 3 Orchestral Pieces, Op. 6 / Anton Webern: 6 Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6 / Arnold Schoenberg: 5 Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16
James Levine directs the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in works by Alban Berg, Anton Webern and Arnold Schoenberg.Classical CDs
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