Classical Editor: Rob Barnett


Music Webmaster
Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb.uk.net


ARNOLD SCHOENBERG: Erwartung; Brettl-Lieder (Cabaret Songs)   Jessye Norman · Metropolitan Opera Orchestra · James Levine Philips CD 426 261-2 62m DDD

 


Crotchet

Amazon



Giuseppe Giannone, who lives in Italy, was the Winner of the July competition and chose this disc as his prize. He was so delighted with it he sent in this review.


This recording is not new, the CD was released in 1993 and at that time it received a lot of awards. I think it deserves the highest consideration as an "evergreen" modern classic.

First of all the unusual choice of the program must be appreciated. Arnold Schoenberg is still often considered a difficult composer, too "serious", and with a lot of strictly musical problems, which prevent the average listener from understanding his music. Actually he was (and loved to consider himself) the link between the great German musical tradition and the future.

The works included in this CD date back to the first decade of the twentieth century and reveal two very different aspects of Schoenberg's activity: Erwartung (1909) is the well known masterpiece of expressionism while the Brettl Lieder (1901) are cabaret songs written by the young composer during a short stay in Berlin, but published only after his death. So here we find an unexpected (or at least less known) side of Schoenberg's personality and I must say it is really a pleasure listening to such high entertainment music.

It was intended for a cabaret theatre, but that cabaret in Berlin at the beginning of the century was a literary cabaret with musicians like Schoenberg and poets like Dehmel and Wedekind. The quality of the songs reflects that environment and it is not typical of popular music. The last song, Nachtwandler (Night Wanderer) is especially notable: the voice is accompanied by piano, piccolo, trumpet, and snare drum and, as Schoenberg noted, perhaps it is the first example of chamber music for a very small orchestra before jazz ensembles.

The second and most important strength of this CD is Jessye Norman's voice. In Erwartung she is perfect: more than 32 minutes alone in this difficult "monodrama" which is a continuous psychological stream where it is the music and especially the voice which express all the states of mind of the woman who is the only character. So the great soprano can use all her art to let us feel immersed I do not know if in the always changing musical material or in the woman's psychological flow itself. Here almost all the possibilities of human voice can be heard.

Also her performance in the Brettl Lieder is elegant and exciting and it is clear she enjoys singing such nice intriguing songs.

Last but not least James Levine shows his known ability in working with singers, both as a conductor and as a pianist. He accompanies Jessye Norman and seems to give her all the necessary freedom to express her outstanding technique.

The quality of the recording is extremely good and makes it possible to appreciate all the wonderful colours of that great voice. Also the orchestra, the piano, and the chamber ensemble are reproduced at their best, but it is the voice which hypnotises the listener.

Guest reviewer

Giuseppe Giannone

Performance:

Sound:

Guest reviewer

Giuseppe Giannone

Performance:

Sound:



Reviews carry sales links
but you can also purchase
from:







REVIEWS
Index
Chandos
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
1998

Return to Index