Orchestral Wks

I don't always warm up to the Second Viennese School, but Simon Rattle has crafted an album that is highly persuasive. He has a real feeling for the beauty of these compositions, and his orchestra is trained to perform them to the last degree. His performance of Schoenberg's Five Orchestral Pieces is highly moving. Moods are created with a keen ear for sonority, and the entire emotional perspective is sumptuous and reflective. The booklet contains the English translations of Schoenberg's titles for each piece, and they can be followed very meaningfully. Webern's Six Orchestral Pieces are given with a rather different aesthetic, one that emphasizes orchestral pointillism over mood painting. In a strange way, Mozart came to mind. As for the Lulu Suite, this is the lushest performance I've ever heard. I grew up with LPs of the Suite by Ormandy and Abbado, but Rattle offers lucidity and warmth that seem new to me. Arleen Auger sings beautifully. The sound engineering throughout the CD is crystalline and full sounding. I am hardly an expert on the Second Viennese School, but I think very few people would be unhappy with this disc.

From all versions i got from the Lulu Suite this is the best i 've heard. rattle's tenderness and interpretation of the last movement ís great. every 20th century music lover must have this album. i higly recommend it.

rattle should make the complete opera

Simon Rattle has recorded a lot of 19th century music and most of the results have been dismal. There is little to recommend by Rattle in pre-20th century repertoire. A few Haydn symphonies, some pretty good Brahms, bits of Mahler, Ein Heldenleben by Strauss which is just at the cusp of the 20th century. Alright, so Rattle is not the conductor to go to for the great classics. However, when he records modern music, he seems fully in tune with it's sound and style, plus he has less competition on the market to boot.

Here is a collection from a trio of composers that seem forever destined to be tough nuts to crack as far as their music being loved and achieving mass exposure. They are never going to achieve popularity. At the same time, anyone with an open mind and open ears can be enthralled by the works contained here. Schoenberg's creepy, mysterious Five Orchestral Pieces, Webern's ethereal and far more compact Six Orchestral Pieces. Rattle plays them all with nuance and feeling. The real reason I bought this disc is the Lulu Suite and it's a breathtaking, haunting compilation from Berg's great modern opera. Arleen Auger is the soprano soloist and she scores great on all accounts. Her contribution is limited to two tracks, so people who are afraid of operatic singing need not worry. Rattle and his Burmingham orchestra are the true stars. Comparing directly Rattle's take on the Lulu Suite against Abbado's with the LSO on DG, I consistently find Rattle more involved, more refined and sharper when the music needs more violence. The digital recording by EMI is also expert and scores over DG's analogue sound for Abbado which lacks some atmosphere. Rattle made this record back in 1987-88 and it stands up to any competition on the market.