Berg: Three Orchestral Pieces op. 6

[teamsaint]

Thanks for the advice on the Schoenberg everybody. Think I might go for the Naxos disc, as the CC and the Brahms arrangement are also gaps I would like to fill, though the Dorati looks very tempting indeed.......

[jayne lee wilson]

Most striking from a browse through the Gramophone archive on Berg's OP.6 was the high praise given to Levine in Berlin (TH, 8/87) - Sounds in Retrospect 12/87 thought it one of DG's finest achievements. It seems to be on the romantic side of things stylistically, but an audiophile treat at the very least. Slightly jealous of HD finding a Japanese one at Chaumiere I ordered a German one as soon as I could!

Abbado in Vienna has the greater depth and complexity, the LSO more drive and attack, but both are considered more intensely, sheerly beautiful than citadel-storming. Karajan always well-regarded, though TH describes the LPs as having a narrow dynamic range (!) - certainly not true of the CD transfer.

Critical opinion is very down on Boulez/BBCSO (inexpressive, and artificial perspectives), and the later NY Met/Levine is marked down by MEO for being a little too luxurious and spacious.
Colin Davis/BRSO is criticised for harshness and generally poor sound "messy and noisy"!.... Gielen well liked but you have to buy a Mahler 6 to hear it....

With Schoenberg/Webern MEO had high praise for Rattle's leaner, spikier sound (I'm a fan too - it's very spacious & wideranging) contrasted with the very full, rich, Levine/Berlin one, which he felt was a little too ripe - if very impressive sonically...

That's all I can remember just now.

[amateur51]

With Schoenberg/Webern MEO had high praise for Rattle's leaner, spikier sound (I'm a fan too) contrasted with the very full, rich, Levine/Berlin one, which he felt was a little too ripe - if very impressive sonically...

That's all I can remember just now.

Gramophone's glory days - reviews by Michael Oliver (MEO):sigh:

[Petrushka]

Has anyone heard the Gatti recording on the RCO label?

If I want another version it looks like I need to get hold of Levine. Interesting that this is a rare disc (the only one?) to bring together the Berg 3, Webern 6 and Schoenberg 5 together on one CD. An obvious combination one would have thought. What a great pity that Karajan didn't include the Schoenberg op. 16 in his set. Ditto Sinopoli.

[Pianoman]

If you can get hold of the Levine you won't be disappointed - I've re-visited it because of this thread and it's not only spectacular playing and recording, but Levine paces everything just about perfectly for me. A truly great disc imo..

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

What a great pity that Karajan didn't include the Schoenberg op. 16 in his set.

Absolutely - I also long had hopes for a Karajan /Mutter Berg Violin Concerto.

Ditto Sinopoli.

Yes - I can only assume that Sinopoli intended to record Op 16 (and the Orchestral Variations - and mebbe the two Concertos) but his early death prevented this. (His other 2ndViennese School recordings date from 1995-98; he died in '01 - so ... )

[Oliver]

Sinopoli 's performances of the two concertos are on Elatus, originally Teldec. Rich, romantic and with good recorded sound. A bargain.

[Petrushka]

Sinopoli 's performances of the two concertos are on Elatus, originally Teldec. Rich, romantic and with good recorded sound. A bargain.

I think Ferney was referring to the Schoenberg Violin/Piano Concertos. He did indeed record the Berg VC and Chamber Concerto and they are on the boxed set that many of us on here got very cheaply a while back.

Unwary owners of that set should be aware that the Berg Three Orchestral Pieces have the tracking information incorrectly printed in the booklet (at least it is in my copy).

[mathias broucek]

Unwary owners of that set should be aware that the Berg Three Orchestral Pieces have the tracking information incorrectly printed in the booklet (at least it is in my copy).

Mine too. Der Wein comes BEFORE the Op 6 pieces.

[Petrushka]

Mine too. Der Wein comes BEFORE the Op 6 pieces.

Perhaps that's why the set was so cheap

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I think Ferney was referring to the Schoenberg Violin/Piano Concertos.

Indeed. But Oliver's post brought a couple of minutes of joy to my day

[akiralx]

Has anyone heard the Gatti recording on the RCO label?

Yes, I have that SACD, but to my shame only listen to the Lulu-suite. Will rectify that tonight, I have the HvK to compare.

[Petrushka]

Yes, I have that SACD, but to my shame only listen to the Lulu-suite. Will rectify that tonight, I have the HvK to compare.

What did you think?