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The Second Viennese School

Schoenberg, Berg & Webern

Karita Mattila (Tove), Anne Sofie von Otter (Waldtaube), Thomas Moser (Waldemar), Philip Langridge (Klaus-Narr), Thomas Quasthoff (Bauer/Sprecher), Phyllis Bryn-Julson (soprano), Gidon Kremer (violin), Franz Mazura (narrator)

Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin, MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig,...

Release Date: 6th Sep 2010
Catalogue No: 4575622
Label: Warner Classics
Series: Simon Rattle Edition
Length: 5 hours 14 minutes

Gramophone Awards

1995

Winner - Orchestral
Building a Library

March 2017

First Choice

Schoenberg: Gurrelieder

Work length1:49:59

Album only

Karita Mattila (soprano), Thomas Moser (tenor), Thomas Quasthoff (narrator), Thomas Quasthoff (baritone), Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano), Simon Halsey (director), Philip Langridge (tenor)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Leipzig Radio Choir, Männer des Ernst-Senff-Chors Berlin, Männer des Rundfunkchors Berlin, Männerchor des Rundfunkchores Leipzig, Rundfunkchor Berlin
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 2002-12-31
Recording Venue: 18-20 September/9 November 2001/Philharmonie, Berlin & Air Lyndhurst, London

Orchestral Prelude

Track length6:56

$1.30

$1.70

Nun dämfpt die Dämm'rung (Waldemar)

Track length4:19

$1.30

$1.70

O, wenn des Mondes Strahlen (Tove)

Track length3:12

$1.30

$1.70

Ross! Mein Ross! (Waldemar)

Track length3:02

$1.30

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Sterne jubeln (Tove)

Track length2:39

$1.30

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So tanzen die Engel vor Gottes Thron nicht (Waldemar)

Track length2:21

$1.30

$1.70

Nun sag ich dir zum ersten mal (Tove)

Track length3:36

$1.30

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Es ist Mitternachtszeit (Waldemar)

Track length6:07

$1.30

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Du sendest mir einen Liebesblick (Tove)

Track length4:55

$1.30

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Du wunderliche Tove! (Waldemar)

Track length4:21

$1.30

$1.70

Orchestral interlude

Track length5:22

$1.30

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Tauben von Gurre (Waldtaube)

Track length12:48

Album only

Gurrelieder, Part Two: Herrgott, weisst du, was du tatest

Track length4:46

$1.30

$1.70

Erwacht, König Waldemars Mannen wert! (Waldemar)

Track length2:08

$1.30

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Deckel des Sarges klappert (Bauer & Chor)

Track length3:55

$1.30

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Gegrüsst, o König (Waldermars Männen)

Track length5:48

$1.30

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Mit Toves stimme flüstert der Wald (Waldemar)

Track length3:23

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'Ein seltsamer Vogel ist so'n Aal' (Klaus-Narr)

Track length6:32

$1.30

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Du strenger Richter droben (Waldemar)

Track length2:50

$1.30

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Der Hahn erhebt den Kopf zur Kraht

Track length6:30

$1.30

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Orchestral Prelude

Track length2:44

$1.30

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Herr Gänsefuss, Frau Gänsekraut (Sprecher)

Track length6:12

$1.30

$1.70

Seht die Sonne (Chor)

Track length5:33

$1.30

$1.70

Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 9

Work length21:49

$5.20

$6.80

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (lead vocals)
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1993-10-10
Recording Venue: 9-10 October 1993. Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Langsam - Sehr rasch -

Track length4:53

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[Fig. 32] Feurig - Hauptzeitmaß - ruhiger - sehr rasch -

Track length6:39

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[Fig. 77] Viel langsamer - fließender - schwungvoll - Hauptzeitmaß -

Track length7:08

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[Fig. 100] Etwas ruhiger - steigernd - Hauptzeitmaß

Track length3:09

$1.30

$1.70

Schoenberg: Erwartung, Op. 17

Work length7:33

$3.90

$5.10

Phyllis Bryn-Julson (soprano)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1993-10-01
Recording Venue: Sep 30 - Oct 1 1993. Symphony Hall, Birmingham

I. Szene: Hier hinein? Man sieht den Weg nicht...

Track length2:51

$1.30

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II. Szene: Ist das noch der Weg? Hier ist es eben.

Track length2:51

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III. Szene: Da kommt ein Licht!

Track length1:51

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Schoenberg: Erwartung (Monodrama), Op.17 (1909), IV

Work length22:14

$9.10

$11.90

Phyllis Bryn-Julson (soprano)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1993-10-01
Recording Venue: Sep 30 - Oct 1 1993. Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Szene:: Er ist auch nicht da...

Track length2:09

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Szene:: Das Mondlicht...nein, dort...

Track length2:50

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Szene:: Was soll ich tun...

Track length4:22

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Szene:: Aber seltsam ist dein Auge...

Track length2:23

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Szene:: Du siehst wieder dort hin?...

Track length1:41

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Szene:: Oh! nicht einmal die Gnade...

Track length3:59

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Szene:: Liebster, Liebster, der Morgen kommt...

Track length4:50

$1.30

$1.70

Schoenberg: Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31

Work length23:15

$14.30

$18.70

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1993-04-06
Recording Venue: 5-6 April 1993: Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Introduktion und Theme -

Track length2:44

$1.30

$1.70

Variation I -

Track length1:11

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Variation II -

Track length2:19

$1.30

$1.70

Variation III -

Track length0:49

$1.30

$1.70

Variation IV -

Track length1:21

$1.30

$1.70

Variation V -

Track length2:09

$1.30

$1.70

Variation VI -

Track length1:41

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Variation VII -

Track length2:50

$1.30

$1.70

Variation VIII -

Track length0:36

$1.30

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Variation IX -

Track length0:59

$1.30

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Finale

Track length6:36

$1.30

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Schoenberg: 5 orchestral pieces, Op. 16

Work length18:47

$6.50

$8.50

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1988-04-29
Recording Venue: 19-21 December 1987 & 29 April 1988/Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick

I. Vorgefühle (Sehr rasch)

Track length2:22

$1.30

$1.70

II. Vergangenes (Mässige Viertel)

Track length5:54

$1.30

$1.70

III. Farben (Mässige Viertel)

Track length4:13

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Peripetie (Sehr rasch)

Track length2:37

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V. Das obligate Rezitativ (Bewegte Achtel)

Track length3:41

$1.30

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Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra Op. 6

Work length12:32

$7.80

$10.20

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1988-04-29
Recording Venue: 29 April 1988/Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick

I. Langsam

Track length1:04

$1.30

$1.70

II. Bewegt

Track length1:33

$1.30

$1.70

III. Mässig

Track length0:55

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IV. Sehr mässig

Track length4:24

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V. Sehr langsam

Track length2:43

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VI. Langsam

Track length1:53

$1.30

$1.70

Webern: 5 Orchesterstücke, Op.10

Work length3:18

$3.90

$5.10

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1995-08-12
Recording Venue: 9-15 July & 8-12 August 1995 / Symphony Hall, Birmingham

III. Sehr langsam und äusserst ruhig

Track length1:34

$1.30

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Fließend, äußerst zart

Track length0:33

$1.30

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Sehr fließend

Track length1:11

$1.30

$1.70

Berg: Lulu-Suite (Five Symphonic Pieces) for soprano and orchestra

Work length34:13

Album only

Arleen Auger (soprano)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1987-12-21
Recording Venue: 19-21 December 1987/Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick

I. Rondo (Andante) und Hymne

Track length14:50

Album only

II. Ostinato (Allegro)

Track length3:51

$1.30

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III. Lied der Lulu (Comodo)

Track length3:01

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Variationen (Moderato)

Track length3:25

$1.30

$1.70

V. Adagio

Track length9:06

$1.30

$1.70

Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25

Work length42:47

Album only

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1984-06-19
Recording Venue: 19 June 1984. The Maltings, Snape

I. Allegro

Track length14:07

Album only

II. Intermezzo (Allegro ma non troppo) - Trio

Track length8:24

$1.30

$1.70

III. Andante con moto - Animato

Track length10:52

Album only

IV. Rondo alla Zingarese (Presto)

Track length9:24

$1.30

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Schoenberg: A Survivor from Warsaw, Op. 46

Work length7:16

$1.30

$1.70

Franz Mazura (narrator)
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1995-08-12
Recording Venue: 9-15 July & 8-12 August 1995 / Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Berg: Violin Concerto 'To the memory of an angel': Conclusion

Work length10:41

Album only

Gidon Kremer (violin)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded: 1995-08-12
Recording Venue: 9-15 July & 8-12 August 1995 / Symphony Hall, Birmingham

About
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About

Arnold Schönberg (he adopted the spelling Schoenberg when he took American citizenship in 1941having fled Germany in 1933) was born in Vienna. Neither his Hungarian father nor Prague-born mother were musical but he, together with his sister and brother, showed talent and indeed his brother became a professional singer.

He started violin lessons at 8 and soon began to compose and making arrangements of any music that came his way. His childhood was difficult as money was short, but it became much harder on the death of his father as he had to leave school and take a job as a bank clerk for five years, and it was only the evenings when he could continue his interests in music, literature and philosophy. As he was too poor to attend concerts he and his friends played their own and would then eavesdrop on bands playing in cafés. He joined a group of string players who were conducted by Alexander von Zemlinsky and, in due time, married his sister.

There were exceptions but usually his music met with hostile audiences and, by and large, the reaction of modern audiences is the same. This is a great sadness as it not only deprives them hearing some glorious music but also limits their ability to understand the development of music from late romanticism to the twentieth century.

Take the longest of the works in the collection, Gurrelieder, Schönberg began it when he was 27 having written merely songs and chamber music. The tragic tale of the love of King Waldemar and Tove who is killed by his jealous Queen is expressed in a series of ravishingly sensual solos for the lovers, the Wood-dove then sings of her grief at Tove’s death. Waldemar, in his anguish, curses God and is sentenced to ride his horse every night for all eternity. Those who like the music of Wagner and Strauss will immediately fall under its spell. The orchestra employed is enormous, with a large chorus and six solo voices it means that performances are rare events so any chance to hear it in concert should be taken or merely enjoy it in the privacy of your own home. Schönberg increasingly felt compelled to search for a new style of expressing his musical ideas and his remaining works in the collection show how he used the orchestra in communicating it. He was also a fine orchestrator as can be appreciated in his transformation of Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor.

His two pupils were both born in Vienna, Anton Webern on 3rd December 1883 and Alban Berg on 9th February 1885. Webern who had learnt the piano and cello during his childhood and attended the Bayreuth Festival in 1902 met Schönberg in 1904. He, like his teacher, had written some unrepentantly romantic music but it was he who adopted his teacher’s new system and took it to its fullest extent. If the chosen series of notes (tone-row, all 12 notes in the scale played once) in its normal, inversion, retrograde and retrograde inversion yielded music of a mere 28 seconds duration then he considered the piece complete. His music has thus been described by some as “cerebral” but others, like Stravinsky, were fully convinced that here was the new way to compose and even to follow the system in their own works. Stravinsky even assisted in ensuring that the vast majority of Webern’s music was recorded. Webern withdrew from public life during the Nazi period and WW2 but on 15th September 1945 he was killed in error by an American soldier.

Berg, although he had had little musical education, wrote many songs before he met Schönberg in 1904. As his father had died when he was 15 Berg looked on his teacher, who was then 30, as his surrogate-father, mentor and guide. Unlike Webern, however, whilst he used Schönberg’s system he adapted it so that he could bring much more lyrical expression to his music – it is not atonal as there are distinct key-centres to sections.

This may clearly be seen in the Symphonic Suite from his opera “Lulu” and his last completed work the Violin Concerto. Although prompted by the death of Manon Gropius, Alma Mahler’s daughter, at the age of 18 in April 1935, and he quotes Bach’s chorale Es ist genug, it can be also considered as Berg’s own Requiem for he suffered a painful abscess in his back in August and died of general septicaemia on 24th December, aged just 50.

Artists

Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin, MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Ernst-Senff-Chor Berlin, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle

The Second Viennese School

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