Thread: Alban Berg, a wonderful mind

Yeah, heard that, not bad at all. But it's not serialist.

That'll be the day when some person catches me in college humming some atonal piece...
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You won't believe this...But I remember when Schönberg with pride said once...They won't hum my works...I did it!!!!!! LOL I can sing parts from LULU, Wozzeck and Shönberg's violin concerto. Schönberg would be very angry....LOL.

Serial music is a second nature...You have to relax, concentrate and let it penetrate you...At first it could sound weird...Listen several times the same little bit, again and again...The magic will arrive...You'll be transported...and more aeasily you will GET into it...It's part of your mind...maybe the dark side?

Martin

dedicated to an Angel (Alma Mahler's daughter was diying)...it is a very romantic piece...you have to listen to it at least 10 times...The first time sounds "cacophonic", the second...less worse....the fifth, not that bad...the 9th it sounds romantic, melodic, wonderful....

I love this concerto, it is one of the best of the XXth century (in my opinion).

Martin Pitchon

the production looks German - or certainly 'Northern'. Stunning. The gas/oxygen mask (?)...breath taking?

I have heard my teacher say that 12 tone stuff that he consistently has warm feelings about is Alban Berg. I'll have to check out his music.

Originally Posted by jdavid

the production looks German - or certainly 'Northern'. Stunning. The gas/oxygen mask (?)...breath taking?

This production was staged in Barcelona (at Liceu) and Madrid (at Teatro Real). It's in my view the finest achievement of Mr. Bieito so far. It was really disturbing, with a superb scenography. At the end of the opera, there was an hiatus of half a minute before the audience started the applause, many people were entranced.

I think Berg's Wozzeck is pretty cool. Berg was probably one of the finest composers during the early 12-tone to realise its potential and worked it outwards to many genres and was so damn good at it with Wozzeck and Lulu.

Originally Posted by Manxfeeder

I probably shouldn't admit it, but after several attempts, I'm still trying to hear what others love in the violin concerto. I have the recording, have seen it live, and heard the BBC Radio 3 lecture. I have the score and sometime will just have to mark it up to see what's happening, because all I do when I hear it is look forward to the chorale.

The question is do you HAVE a good version? This is essential to enjoy this concerto.

This is a good one:



Enjoy.

Martin

I love Berg, the piano sonata, the pieces for clarinet and piano, of course the violin concerto, the string quartet and the lyric suite. I haven't seen his operas yet, as I abhor operas, but I probably will someday anyway.

He's different from Schoenberg, less strict, less academic, it seems. I'd still choose Schoenberg over Berg, but Berg's unique style is wonderful.

Originally Posted by Andreas

I love Berg, the piano sonata, the pieces for clarinet and piano, of course the violin concerto, the string quartet and the lyric suite. I haven't seen his operas yet, as I abhor operas, but I probably will someday anyway.

He's different from Schoenberg, less strict, less academic, it seems. I'd still choose Schoenberg over Berg, but Berg's unique style is wonderful.

I agree with you. But voice is for Alban Berg a very important "instrument", other his two major operas he has the lieder. A big part of his output. I guess you are missing something really important of his production. You cannot judge entirely his works if you neglect his vocal music.



Here you have the awesome Altenberg lieder written from postal cards. I love Renée Fleming's voice. Claudio Abbado is also terrific.

Listen to it several times. It is sooooo good.

Originally Posted by myaskovsky2002

The question is do you HAVE a good version? This is essential to enjoy this concerto.

This is a good one:

Thanks. You can't argue with Ivry Gitlis. I have the Naxos recording with Rebecca Hirsch. I don't know how it stands up on the good/bad list.

Originally Posted by Manxfeeder

Thanks. You can't argue with Ivry Gitlis. I have the Naxos recording with Rebecca Hirsch. I don't know how it stands up on the good/bad list.

Naxos??????!!!!!!! I had Naxos before. As my son says, buy cheap, buy twice. I changed almost all my Naxos. Naxos in uneven (just to be polite) sometimes you get lucky, but more often yo don't. Alas.

Martin