Schoenberg Pelleas and Melisande- recommended recordings?

[MickyD]

At the risk of causing outrage, I recall reading that Gardiner with his period Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique gave their version of this in Paris recently - was it recorded, I wonder?

[Bryn]

At the risk of causing outrage, I recall reading that Gardiner with his period Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique gave their version of this in Paris recently - was it recorded, I wonder?

Again, the Debussy, surely? They are performing it at the Proms this year.

[MickyD]

Whoops, sorry - I misread the heading and assumed it was Debussy. I stand corrected, Bryn! But thanks for the info that this performance is coming to the Proms.

[Barbirollians]

I ended up listening to the CSO/Boulez . I really liked it and one could hear what was going on rather than a big romantic mush . I am not very taken with the Apex couplings though . I don't like the Piano Concerto and after Hahn's magnificent recording who needs another of the violin concerto ?

Barbirolli next .

[BBMmk2]

I think I found that with the Karajan version? IMO rather a big romantic mush?

[jayne lee wilson]

To reiterate, the 24-bit Linn download of Darlington/Duisberg makes as much sense of the piece as I've heard, but I've always had real problems with the piece itself, so...

I find the continuously dreamy, gloomy atmosphere very oppressive, like being trapped in a bad dream, despite (slight) changes in texture and tempi...
My least favourite Schoenberg opus.

Oddly enough the Debussy shares a similar, consistently oppressive atmosphere, evidently related to the heavy, suppressed sexualities of the Maeterlinck source...
I can absorb the Sibelius with pleasure, (save for the Castle Gate...)

But if you want to wallow in clearer mud, try the Duisberg, cost notwithstanding.

[Panjandrum]

Oddly enough the Debussy shares a similar, consistently oppressive atmosphere, evidently relayed to the heavy, suppressed sexualities of the Maeterlinck source...

Try Sibelius or Faure for a different take on the Pelleas myth.

[Serial_Apologist]

To reiterate, the 24-bit Linn download of Darlington/Duisberg makes as much sense of the piece as I've heard, but I've always had real problems with the piece itself, so...

I find the continuously dreamy, gloomy atmosphere very oppressive, like being trapped in a bad dream, despite (slight) changes in texture and tempi...
My least favourite Schoenberg opus.

Me too, JLW, and I write as a huge Schoenberg admirer! Earlier on in the thread someone compared "Pelleas und Melisande" with Strauss at his best - and that's the problem for me, as with "Ein Heldenleben" the claggy orchestration - which strangely I don't find to be nearly as much the case with the near-contemporaneous "Gurrelieder", nor any of Schoenberg's later orchestral scores from Op 16 onwards, which to me are pure, visionary genius, still futuristic sounding to this day. I have the feeling that this composer learned a lot about clarity of scoring and unusual sonorities from Mahler and Debussy, but did not put their example to use until after abandoning tonality.

[Barbirollians]

Love the Barbirolli - with extra singalong bits from Sir John . Rather more passionate than the Boulez if not quite as well played .

I know what Jayne means about being in a dream but with Barbirolli there is a kaleidoscope of colour and real feeling.

[PJPJ]

To reiterate, the 24-bit Linn download of Darlington/Duisberg makes as much sense of the piece as I've heard, but I've always had real problems with the piece itself, so...

The Duisbergers do an excellent job for Darlington and the recording has a pleasing concert hall balance. (I don't have the 24 bit download.....)

There are a few more I've heard, Karajan refulgent, JB in a ripe performance, Bamert on Chandos, also excellent with a ripe recording as well, and Baudo in an interesting 2CD set from Supraphon with other Pelleas works with the Czech PO:

Claude Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande Symphony
Jean Sibelius: Pelléas et Mélisande (Incidental music to the play by M. Maeterlincke)
Arnold Schönberg: Pelleas und Melisande (Symphonic poem based on M. Maeterlincke)
Gabriel Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande (Concert suite of music to the play by M. Maeterlincke)

Yes, indeed, Pelléas et Mélisande Symphony.

[Roehre]

Claude Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande Symphony.....

Yes, indeed, Pelléas et Mélisande Symphony.

The Constant 5 mvt suite I guess? (Very enjoyable and a well done job of Contant's , I haste to add)

[Roehre]

Jean Sibelius: Pelléas et Mélisande (Incidental music to the play by M. Maeterlinck)
Arnold Schönberg: Pelleas und Melisande (Symphonic poem based on M. Maeterlinck)
Gabriel Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande (Concert suite of music to the play by M. Maeterlinck)

I seem to recall a Philips 2LP set/ Duo 2CD set of these pieces (plus an extra vocal mvt in the Fauré) by Zinman and the Rotterdam Philharmonic. Excellent set I recall.

[silvestrione]

I stand corrected. I have just checked my CDs and the Boulez is on Erato. I would have staked my life on it being on Sony!! I have at least 5 Schoenberg, Webern, Berg Boulez CDs on Sony.

Just to return to pedantry for a moment, (and these things are MUCH more serious than music issues, of course), but your chosen quote, Beef Oven, 'When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea', is from the inimitable Eric Cantona, not Bobby Charlton...or did you intend that as a joke?

[BBMmk2]

This has really inspired me to have a look at this work to. Hvk on EMI and Abbado will be the ones for me i think.

[Beef Oven]

Just to return to pedantry for a moment, (and these things are MUCH more serious than music issues, of course), but your chosen quote, Beef Oven, 'When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea', is from the inimitable Eric Cantona, not Bobby Charlton...or did you intend that as a joke?

I'm pretty sure it was Bobby Charlton. It was soon after he'd Kung-Foo kicked that Crystal Palace fan as he was leaving the field having been sent off. Bobby had quite a temper on him.