Search - Alban Berg, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra :: Berg: Lulu Suite, Altenberg-Lieder / Abbado, Price

So-called "modern" music never sounded so beautiful!

Y. Shuster | forest hills, New York United States | 03/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is remarkable in that while Abbado, and the wonderful London Symphony Orchestra's players, are playing mostly atonal music that can seem downright strange, dissonant, and strident, especially to ears that are not used to Berg, they have no trouble conveying the beauty, lusciousness, and excitement of much of this music. I find this particularly true in the beginning and end of the "Lulu Suite," the final movement ("Marsch") of Berg's "Three Pieces for Orchestra," and the final selection of the five "Altenberg" lieder. Yet, the entire recording is a masterpiece! In some of the "Lulu Suite," and all of the five lieder after Altenberg, Abbado, and the orchestra, are abetted by the beautiful, and insightful, singing of a young Margaret Price, then quite in her prime. Especially in the Altenberg, Miss Price, whose German diction is flawless, lives up to the highest calling of her art, in that, through her dedication and total immersion in these songs, she gives them a relevance and immediacy, that should help even those most adverse to modern and atonal music, find them insightful and thought-provoking."

Outstanding

Anthony Green | Boston/Providence | 08/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Berg is one of those composers who has a deep connection with passion. Most of his music, in my opinion, is just filled with such deep, raw human expression that tickles and pokes at the soul in the most relevant way. With this being said, a good performance/recording would do just that, and this CD did not fail in this regard. Upon hearing the first chord of the Lulu Suite - a gripping, unsettled, pseudo-jazzy chord - I knew that I was in for a treat. Margaret Price sings excellently (despite a sharp high note in the third mvt of the Lulu suite), and the orchestra/conductor has provided an excellent interpretation of these pieces. If one wishes to have Berg orchestral literature in his/her repertoire, this CD is a must have."