WEBERN: Symphony; Six Pieces; Concerto

Craft, Robert, Twentieth Century Classics Ensemble

8.557530

As an important issue in the ‘Robert Craft Collection’, Naxos here offers an exceptionally generous selection of Webern’s nature works. Eight brief pieces for various forces frame the three central works, the Six Pieces, Op. 6, the most powerful example of his early atonal period, exploiting a very large orchestra, the Symphony, Op. 21, for chamber orchestra, one of the finest works of his later, fully serial period, and the Concerto for nine soloist, the most popular of his chamber works. The Philharmonia plays warmly in Opus 6, with the 20th Century Classics Ensemble from New York giving virtuoso performances of the other two, also supplying players fro the other two, also supplying players for the smaller-scale piece. Jennifer Welch-Babidge’s bright, clear precisely focused, is ideal fro the craggy lines of the vocal pieces. Full texts and English translations are given. As a charming supplement, the Philharmonia also plays the set of six tiny German Dances by Schubert which, soon after they were discovered in 1929, Webern set sensitively fro small orchestra. Excellent sound in recording from both London and New York. • Penguin Guide, January 2009

CD

13.12.2004

747313253029