Karajan and the Sensual

Representing Arnold Schoenberg's early music, these two works are rather sensual sounding, taking the best from the Post-Romantic influences of Wagner and Debussy.

Sensuality, and the thick quality of the Berlin Philharmonic, go hand in hand, I think. For those scared to get into the music of Schoenberg, one could hardly go wrong here.

This whole 'block' cover series was great. Karajan and Berlin handled the modernists excellently. This recording doesn't naturally fit in with those musically, but name recognition is probably paramount.

A review from 2021

Very approachable orchestral music by Arnold Schoenberg!

Otherwise known for his tough-sounding, Second Viennese School compositions, his symphonic poems Verklärte Nacht & Pelleas and Melisande are wonderfully luscious. These early works, including the massive Gurre-Lieder, take the post-Romanticisms of Mahler, Strauss, and Wagner, plus the modernity of Debussy and his ilk, to the utmost precipice. With Schoenberg’s strong abilities with orchestration, one can hear in these über Romantic works, a different voice yearning to break free, one that will later define his career, for better or worse.

While Schoenberg obviously revels in the expressionist aspects of these stories, the woman’s difficulties in expressing her life’s choices amidst a scene of serene nature in Verklärte Nacht, for example, it is his ability to show hope and goodwill that I find so intriguing in his musical language, an aspect I don’t hear from him too often. I am not a particular fan of meandering and brooding post-Romantic era orchestral music, but there is a lot to like in these works. I hear hints of Impressionism married with Bruckner-like scaffolding in Pelleas that really carry the love story well in Schoenberg’s orchestral voice.

Herbert von Karajan’s series of recordings on DG of Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg were actually quite remarkable, despite the crunchy musical style not being typical of their recordings. Karajan makes this music pulsate though, perhaps the most sensual it could possibly sound, and engineers it to sound like a million bucks. The Berlin Philharmonic takes this music and gives it their own brand of sound quality too: lard-fried foie gras with heaping splashes of truffle oil. DG’s sound from the 70’s is excellent as well.

If you are scared to get into the music of Arnold Schoenberg, take a small step with these terrifically lush Romantic works before leaping in. This Verklärte Nacht is the string orchestra version, so take another moment to find the original string sextet edition while you are at it.

Listen on YouTube 

 

Works
Verklärte Nacht (29.55)
Pelleas und Melisande

Performers
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Label: DG
Year: 1974; 1998

Total Timing: 73.38

 

Karajan in Schoenberg is a dream.

If listeners aren't scared off by the composer's name appearing, a treasure of wealth is available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Schoenberg recordings HERE!