Search - Alban Berg, Eri Klas, Netherlands Radio Sym. Orch. :: Berg: Violin Concerto / Lyric Suite / 3 Orchestra Pieces

Hypnotic journey into Berg mind

H. Granot | Ein Dor, Israel | 12/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Getting to know berg music. The three works on this issue are worth hearing. The Violin Concerto, Lyric Suite, and the Three Orchestral Pieces offered a rarely window into Berg complicated sound world. A dark tragic world of emotions that requires from the performances truth understanding on the score, and from the listener to be attentive to every whisper. However this new issue by Naxos is really one to have, for every serious listener being or already know Berg.The Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the conductor Eri Klas, shows a real commitment to berg intentions. The playing is superb, and the ability of the conductor to see the importance of the work structure, and explorer essential details shows comprehension from the highest order.Berg's wrote his Violin Concerto as a memorial to Alma Mahler daughter, Manon Gropius, died at the age of eighteen. This is a great piece that produced effect of extraordinary beauty. Rebecca Hirsch gives a superb playing of tremendous power. Through The whispered like sections she provides a fine playing with great stress to details. Always aware to the importance of changing in moods and textures, Rebecca Hirsch shifted them perfectly. The Netherlands RSO respond perfectly to berg's complicated score, and they give a fine detailed playing.Berg's first wrote his lyric suite in six movements, and for string quartet. After a successful premiere, performed by the Kolisch Ouartet's Berg decide to re-cast the second, third, four and six movements for string orchestra. Eri Klas opts for a cooler approach, seems perfectly right. He draws from the Netherlands RSO strings a playing of rich and depth sound. The last work in the CD is the dark, brooding Three Orchestral Pieces. Berg complete the first two movements in time for Arnold Schoenberg's (at this years his teacher) fortieth birthday on 1914, but the whole work was not finished until the following year, and Berg had to wait until 1930 for the first performance. In this work Berg's enigmatic like sound is taking the listener into a magical dream. Here also the Netherlands RSO, under Eri Klas, delivered a convincing performance with shatteringly impact. This new issue is a must have for a modern music listeners and for Berg admires. All works are well played and perfectly recorded."