Reissue:The Living Presence Of 20th-Century Music

[elektro80]

Mercury SR90316
Arnold Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 16 / Anton Webern: Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 10 / Alban Berg: Three Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6 - The London Symphony
Orchestra conducted by Antal Dorati

Release date: 11/03

Schoenberg, Berg, Webern - the names of the teacher and his two pupils stand for a revolution in music at the beginning of the 20th century. While Schoenberg demanded freedom of compositional expression, as is amply demonstrated in his expressionistic Five Pieces for Orchestra, op. 16, such freedom was taken to extremes by his brilliant pupils, as can be observed in Anton Webern’s remarkably individual work. »We are standing face to face with the end of music, the absolute end«, wrote the music scholar Hans Mersmann about Webern’s miniature works, the shortest of which lasts for a mere 25 seconds while the longest takes just 80 seconds.
Berg trod a quite different path in his Opus 6, about which Adorno commented: »It sounds as though Schoenberg’s Opus 16 and Mahler’s Ninth Symphony are being played at one and the same time.« As a matter of fact Berg’s musical language becomes manifest in this key-work of modern music - even after twelve-tone music became well established later on, he never quite managed to free himself completely from conventional tonal attributes.
Though the compositional methods differ widely in the orchestral works on this recording, they all have one thing in common: maximal tonal diversity.
Just as Antal Dorati superlatively guides his gigantic orchestra through the densely woven web of notes, the sound engineers tackle their difficult task in masterly fashion and succeed in capturing the ever-changing dynamics both with airy lightness and a full-bodied sound. The result is a milestone of the repertory which certainly should not be missing from any well-assorted collection.

This title is part of the 3-LP set "The Living Presence Of 20th-Century Music" and therefore not available separately.

Recording: July 1962 at Watford Town Hall, London, by C.R. Fine and Robert Eberenz
Production: Wilma Cozart




Mercury SR90282
Gunther Schuller: Seven Studies On Themes Of Paul Klee (1959) / Paul Fetler: Contrasts For Orchestra (1958) - The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antal Dorati

Release date: 11/03

Whether 'fall of man' or 'peccadillo': that colours and forms in painting can inspire a musical masterpiece is an undisputed fact ever since Mussorgsky composed his extremely popular "Pictures At An Exhibition" and Reger his "Boecklin Suite". By comparison, Gunther Schuller’s musical studies on themes by Paul Klee are virtually unknown and recordings hard to come by, although their artistic standard and quality measure up very well to their forebears. While the archaic sound of "Antike Harmonien" (Ancient Harmonies) is easiest to understand because of its title, one has to use a little more imagination when it comes to the jazzy "Kleiner Blauteufel" (Little Blue Devil, blue = blues). The American composer’s works are all brilliant, spiced here and there with a twinkle in his eye, and thrillingly arranged.
An exciting piece of American music is to be discovered in Paul Fetler’s "Contrasts". The contemporary musician describes his four-movement work as a non-traditional symphony which is given life not through thematic development but by means of a rhythmic heartbeat and expanses of meaty chords. If you enjoy music by Bernstein, Schuman and Copland, then Fetler’s "Contrasts" are definitely for you!

This title is part of the 3-LP set "The Living Presence Of 20th-Century Music" and therefore not available separately.

Recording: April 1960 in Northrup Auditorium, Minneapolis, USA, by C.R. Fine and
Robert Eberenz / Production: Wilma Cozart



Mercury SR90278
Alban Berg: Wozzeck (Drei Auszüge), Lulu (Suite) - Helga Pilarczyk and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antal Dorati

Release date: 11/03

Berg’s suites from "Lulu" and "Wozzeck" are among a number of 'symphonically condensed' operas which found their way into music history long before they were heard in the opera house. It was all thanks to Hermann Scherchen, who also conducted the premières, that these pieces were heard in the concert hall. And, in fact, it was Scherchen who suggested that Berg should put together a selection of excerpts from his soldier’s tragedy. Both "Wozzeck" and the characteristic episodes from the man-killing "Lulu" brought the composer lasting fame.
The two suites can be regarded as exemplary of Berg’s art of composition and of his highly individual interpretation of the twelve-tone system as developed by his teacher, Arnold Schoenberg. In spite of the freedom of Berg’s compositional technique, conventional tonal references also shimmer through, thus rendering his music immediately understandable. Dorati’s recording is particularly suitable for easy listening and for becoming acquainted with Berg’s proverbial tonal sensuality. The Hungarian conductor and the LSO penetrate the score with the greatest concentration and painstaking attention to detail, seeking out even the tiniest nuance in the mammoth score. With its wonderfully fresh and transparent sound, this recording is definitely first choice for the tripartite Mercury Living Presence Edition.

This title is part of the 3-LP set "The Living Presence Of 20th-Century Music" and therefore not available separately.

Recording: June 1961 at Watford Town Hall, London, by C.R. Fine and Robert Eberenz
Production: Wilma Cozart

Reissues:
http://www.speakerscorner.de/Speakerscorner/newsite/E/index_neu.htm

[elektro80]

I have the original releases. This is hot stuff and most of the performances are very good. I can recommend this set. I guess the sound quality is far better than the old vinyl, so I am considering getting these myself.

[mosc]

Yes! These are great pieces.

[elektro80]

Aha.. I should have known! You know these old Mercury LPs well?

[mosc]

[elektro80]

You have probably heard these recordings many times. These Antal Dorati LPs are really some magnificent gems. They really stand out! The sound quality on the LPs was great.. just a little tape hiss and the pressings were good. I was really happy when I found these 3 in a box of forgotten LPs in the back of a music shop in Trondheim in 1973.