Favourites,
Alban Berg
Along with Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern, Austrian composer Alban Berg was a principal member of the so-called Second Viennese School, combining Mahlerian late-Romanticism with the system of twelve-tone composition developed by Schoenberg. He is perhaps best-known for his two operas, Lulu and Wozzeck, and his Violin Concerto, which he wrote in memory of Alma Mahler's daughter.
Looking at my choices below, I notice that they are dominated by two conductors: Pierre Boulez and Claudio Abbado. Between them they perfectly encapsulate the combination of Romanticism and intellectual insight that I believe are the necessary qualities of any convincing performance of Berg's music.
Operas
Bo Skovhus as Wozzeck and Angela Denoke as Marie lead the cast in this electrifying live recording. Conductor Ingo Metzmacher pays careful attention to the wealth of orchestral detail in this score to create a truly unsettling performance.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Pierre Boulez's intelligently authoritative conducting and Teresa Stratas's stunning performance in the title role prove to be an unbeatable combination, ably assisted by Yvonne Minton as the Countess Geschwitz, Franz Mazura as Dr Schön, and Robert Tear as The Painter.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
An austere, film noir-esque production by director Christof Loy, scintillatingly conducted by Antonio Pappano and with a mesmerising performance by Agneta Eichenholz as Lulu. With a cast including Michael Volle, Klaus Florian Vogt, Jennifer Larmore, Philip Langridge, and Will Hartmann, there's not a weak link to be found anywhere.
Available Format: 2 DVD Videos
Orchestral and Vocal Works
With an extraordinary tone and perfect intonation, Isabelle Faust brings out the elements of tragedy and loss most effectively in this recording with Claudio Abbado conducting Orchestra Mozart. Abbado is a master of orchestral balance; from pianissimo double bass solos to the expertly-voiced clarinet choir that intones the Bach chorale introduced towards the end of the piece, you can hear all of the piece's tiny details and colours.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
A riveting account from Pierre Boulez and the Vienna Philharmonic. Every moment of this recording is exceptional, whether it be the anguish-ridden strings at the very opening of the piece, the terrifyingly mechanical piano writing at the end of the second movement, the woodwind section imitating the sound of a hurdy-gurdy in the fourth movement, or the devastating brass outbursts in the final bars of the piece as Lulu is murdered.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Claudio Abbado conducts the Vienna Philharmonic in an outstanding recording of the Three Orchestral Pieces, with shattering climaxes. Anne Sofie von Otter's recording of the Seven Early Songs is magnificent; her voice is ideal for this music. The third song in particular (Die Nachtigall) is ravishing.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
A selection of Berg's youthful songs from soprano Juliane Banse and pianist Aleksandar Madžar, including a piano version of the Seven Early Songs. Also on the disc are Berg's two wildly different settings of Schliesse mir die Augen beide (from 1907 and 1925), which serve as a fascinating example of the development of Berg's compositional voice.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Instrumental and Chamber Works
Pierre Boulez and Ensemble Intercontemporain join forces with violinist Christian Tetzlaff and pianist Mitsuko Uchida in this superb recording. Boulez brings his customary clarity to every bar of this music, and Uchida finds poise and a depth of expression that I've not heard in any other recording.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
These 1968 recordings by the LaSalle Quartet easily stand the test of time. With peerless playing from all four performers, for me this remains the top recommendation of both pieces.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
A commanding performance of the Piano Sonata by Maurizio Pollini, yet again demonstrating his mastery of twentieth-century piano repertoire.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Unfortunately this recording is currently only available as a download (or as part of the boxed set below), but I didn't want to leave out this excellent performance from clarinettist Sabine Meyer and pianist Oleg Maisenberg.
Available Formats: Presto CD, MP3, FLAC
Boxed Set
If you feel like taking the plunge and buying a more comprehensive collection, then this 8-CD set is ideal. It includes several of the recordings I have suggested above, as well as some extra goodies, such as a recording of the Altenberg-Lieder sung by Juliane Banse, and a fine recording of Wozzeck, conducted by Claudio Abbado, with a cast including Franz Grundheber, Hildegard Behrens, and Philip Langridge.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
James Longstaffe - Head of Retail
