Customer Reviews

Berg: Lulu Suite; Wozzeck, Three Excerpts; Three Pieces, Op. 6

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

It is unfortunate that this CD is out of print, for it really showcases Alban Berg's esoteric music at its very lyrical and dissonant best. You also have the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, an ensemble honed to fine dimensions by James Levine's scrupulous care for detail and beauty. You get the transparency that the very best orchestras have in spades, yet you also get a lush warmth that belies the textures of Levine's orchestra. As such, the ensemble becomes a perfect vehicle for the whole shebang of the classical repertoire. You can be at ease with the glorious sound of an early music score while later basking in the many intricacies of a 20th century piece.

Now about this recording...although several of these pieces are available in interpretations done by equally distinguished conductors, this is perhaps one of the most compelling you'll ever hear. The textures are clear and linear, but also warm, vibrant, and lyrical. The Three Pieces for Orchestra have never been bettered in any other recording, and if you like Renée Fleming, you'll be surprised to hear her sing the pieces in Wozzeck. It may not be on par with her other more distinguished work, but she certainly knows how to navigate the extremely difficult vocal writing. Another outstanding achievement here is Levine's perfect Lulu suite. Again, Fleming relishes the vocal pieces with her ravishing tone, nailing Lulu's incredibly difficult music with ease. This is perhaps one of her finer, unmannered performances on disc.

One could wish that Levine had included Berg's Seven Early Songs in this recital, but for what it is worth, this CD should really be reissued.

Alban Berg, not happy with the reception of his opera 'Wozzeck', created three fragments from the opera to appease an audience not entirely in tune at that time to his mode of composition. It worked and it still works. Wozzeck is an intensely dramatic work but in the midst of the terrifying horror of the story there are moments from Marie, the mother of his child, that rank with the great arias of opera. Renee Fleming steps out of her usual mold of repertoire and delivers these exquisite arias with a sense of dramatic urgency while allowing her radiant soprano voice to soar when the phrases require it. Much of this music is written in Sprechstimme and few sopranos can match the manner in which Fleming 'sings' these passages with the accuracy of the designated pitch tones Berg wrote. The result is a series of arias that are as richly rewarding technically as they are dramatically sung with conviction.

The same can be said for the excerpts from 'Lulu', a suite of music for orchestra and soprano. Fleming is again up to the challenges of these lines and offers us a tormented heroine that is unforgettable. James Levine conducts Berg with sweep and accuracy and includes the too rarely performed Three Pieces of Orchestra on this noteworthy CD. The music oc Alban Berg is still not universally appreciated the way it should be, but with recordings such as this to familiarize listeners of the treasures of this composer, his operas will likely become more routine ing the operatic repertoires around the world. Grady Harp, April 11