Search - Kronos Quartet, Alban Berg, Franz Liszt :: Kronos Quartet: At The Grave of Richard Wagner

Quite excellent all around

S. Hawkins | New York, NY | 01/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a truly fascinating CD. Perhaps it doesn't have the greatest balance in terms of pieces, but that certainly shouldn't put you off at all.The opening piece (the title track if you want to be "pop") is a truly sublime Lisztian work - you'll find none of the fire and virtuosity that you may have come to expect from him. Seems rather ironic, that a piece written by one of the most "aggressive" composers for another one of the most "aggressive" composers is really quite sublime - no Wagner tubas either.However, that piece provides about 1/15 of the music presented on this album. The other two pieces, by Berg and Webern respectively, are very good ways to "get into" these two composers. We like to associated them with dry, cold, inaccessible serialism, an exceptionally unfair label on both the composers and the style. We, of course, forget that Berg actually had a very post-Romantic sound to his music (he found the "right" set of 12-tones, perhaps?). These pieces, however, are truly quite accessible, while still providing a fair representation about what these composers are all about. Personally, I prefer the Webern - I'm quite drawn to how he compresses everything into the bare essentials, and yet maintains every ounce of expressivity.Naturally, Kronos Quartet plays these pieces brilliantly. And equally naturally, the recording quality is top notch. This is definitely worth a ... investment."

Fantastic !

laurent gervat | Brassempouy France | 12/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is possibly this most beautifull CD ever recorded by the Kronos Quartet. Who said that Berg or Webern were writing obscur or difficult music ? Actually i did, but certainly not when listening to this fabulous breathtaking, harmonius and moving interpretation."

Less Liszt

Daniel G. Berk | West Bloomfield, Michigan | 08/16/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Don't be misled by the title selection into presuming that this CD contains a collection of romantic compositions by Liszt or others who composed in a similar vein. At the Grave of Richard Wagner comprises two minutes and forty-seven seconds of the thirty-two minutes and twenty-eight seconds on the recording. The balance consists of Alban Berg's String Quartet, Op. 3 (19:03) and Anton Webern's Five Pieces, Op. 5 (10:38). Therfore, if twelve-tone compositions are not something for which you have a fondness, unless you have a burning desire to acquire the Liszt composition, you might want to pass on this recording.However, the Kronos Quartet is an excellent ensemble; therefore, if you appreciate the works of Berg and Webern, this recording is a worthy acquisition."