Zemlinsky String Quartets

[Thropplenoggin]

I thought I'd reanimate this thread due to a burgeoning curiosity with Late Romanticism/Second Viennese School and Zemlinsky (has there been a CotW on him?*).

There have been a few new recordings, including:-

1. Escher Quartet in the string quartets (Naxos): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zemlinsky-St...ords=zemlinsky

2. Out this month on Hyperion, a disc of his symphonies: Brabbins/BBC NOW: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zemlinsky-Sy...ords=zemlinsky

*According to this list, no, but he did feature in the recent week, 'Vienna on the Brink'.

[Sir Velo]

I thought I'd reanimate this thread due to a burgeoning curiosity with Late Romanticism/Second Viennese School and Zemlinsky (has there been a CotW on him?*).

There have been a few new recordings, including:-

1. Escher Quartet in the string quartets (Naxos): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zemlinsky-St...ords=zemlinsky

2. Out this month on Hyperion, a disc of his symphonies: Brabbins/BBC NOW: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zemlinsky-Sy...ords=zemlinsky

*According to this list, no, but he did feature in the recent week, 'Vienna on the Brink'.

I have a big soft spot for the old zwerg himself, even if Alma Mahler did call him a hideous dwarf, with more than a passing resemblance to Charles Hawtrey. Amazingly, COTW has not saw fit to have a whole week devoted to this important composer of highly imaginative and sensual music. The two symphonies are, however, to my mind less interesting than what came later. From Die Seejungfrau onwards he develops a rich soundworld all his own.

[Roehre]

I thought I'd reanimate this thread due to a burgeoning curiosity with Late Romanticism/Second Viennese School and Zemlinsky (has there been a CotW on him?*).

There have been a few new recordings, including:-

....
2. Out this month on Hyperion, a disc of his symphonies: Brabbins/BBC NOW: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zemlinsky-Sy...ords=zemlinsky......

Contrary to what Hyperion suggests, this is not a CD featuring all Zemlinsky symphonies.
Zemlinsky did not number his symphonies at all (something RVW didn't either until no.8).
The two recorded here, the d-minor (in his complete form as the missing part of the finale re-emerging some ten years ago has been recorded here as well) [no.1] and the B-flat major (the "Beethoven-prize-symphony") [no.2] are only two of the four works carrying the title "symphony". "No.3" is the Lyrische symphonie and "no.4" the Kammersymphonie.

Interesting and enjoyable works, especially the cyclic B-flat, showing the (partly still undigested) roots of Zemlinky's (orchestral) music. Also because of the gap in style and orchestral treatment between this "2nd" and the Seejungfrau from only around five years later.

[Thropplenoggin]

Contrary to what Hyperion suggests, this is not a CD featuring all Zemlinsky symphonies.
Zemlinsky did not number his symphonies at all (something RVW didn't either until no.8).
The two recorded here, the d-minor (in his complete form as the missing part of the finale re-emerging some ten years ago has been recorded here as well) [no.1] and the B-flat major (the "Beethoven-prize-symphony") [no.2] are only two of the four works carrying the title "symphony". "No.3" is the Lyrische symphonie and "no.4" the Kammersymphonie.

Interesting and enjoyable works, especially the cyclic B-flat, showing the (partly still undigested) roots of Zemlinky's (orchestral) music. Also because of the gap in style and orchestral treatment between this "2nd" and the Seejungfrau from only around five years later.

Thanks for the clarification, Roehre. Fascinating.