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Berg: Lulu Suite; Wozzeck, Three Excerpts; Three Pieces, Op. 6
Alban Berg, James Levine, The MET Orchestra
Berg: Lulu Suite; Wozzeck, Three Excerpts; Three Pieces, Op. 6
Genres: Pop, Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

Berg's "Three Pieces" take the most nightmarish sections of Mahler's Sixth Symphony as their starting point and explore the outermost bound of musical terror. They are not easy to listen to by any means, but if you're a fa...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Alban Berg, James Levine, The MET Orchestra, Renée Fleming
Title: Berg: Lulu Suite; Wozzeck, Three Excerpts; Three Pieces, Op. 6
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sony
Release Date: 1/9/1996
Genres: Pop, Classical
Styles: Vocal Pop, Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 074645395920

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Berg's "Three Pieces" take the most nightmarish sections of Mahler's Sixth Symphony as their starting point and explore the outermost bound of musical terror. They are not easy to listen to by any means, but if you're a fan of horror movie soundtracks, then you'll find this an experience not to be missed. None of the remaining music on this disc is quite so frightening, but it also won't exactly leave you humming the tunes. Berg takes some work, but it's such good music nevertheless that you may find it worth your time. James Levine knows and loves these pieces, and he has an orchestra that plays them with the confidence born of long familiarity. --David Hurwitz

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CD Reviews

A gorgeously performed sampler of Berg's best
Bruce Hodges | New York, NY | 04/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"For Berg lovers this is an extraordinary recording. For those who remain unconvinced of his talent -- and you know who you are -- this disc might change your mind. Never have these pieces sounded so lyrical and Richard Strauss-ian, and frankly, just plain beautiful. The sonorities and textures Levine elicits from this amazing orchestra are ravishing, and the entire project is recorded with clarity that brings out the precision of Berg's writing.In recent years, Levine has received justifiable acclaim for his live performances of both "Wozzeck" and "Lulu," and this disc offers a glorious glimpse of each one, not to mention an outstanding version of Berg's powerful "Three Pieces for Orchestra." The latter is almost frightening, with Levine hunting down every last blazing color in the score.Ms. Fleming is magnificent here. Surely I am not the only music-lover who would be delighted if she were to tackle Marie in "Wozzeck" or the title character in "Lulu." Fleming negotiates the ferociously difficult "Lied der Lulu" effortlessly, and reaches a thrilling climax as the vocal line ascends into the stratosphere. The great Met Orchestra makes a sensuous, crystalline partner for Fleming's powerful sound. We can only imagine the pleasures that complete recordings of these operas might offer, with the combination of Levine's vision and these artists working at this kind of white-hot level. In any case, for now we will have to be satisfied with this stunning preview."