Recommendations for Schoenberg 1st Chamber Symphony

[David Ayers]

On this one I only know and own the Boulez/Columbia version, which is certainly followable but is unnaturally miked. I would like a more natural-sounding version but still one played and conducted at a very high level. Any recommendations?

[Larry Kart]

Holliger, on the expressionistic side, coupled with an excellent performance of the Berg Chamber Concerto:

http://www.amazon.com/Schoenberg-Chamber-Symphony-Berg-Concerto/dp/B000009IMT/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1372625633&sr=1-3&keywords=holliger+schoenberg

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, immaculate but not too much so:

(link to that DGG recording won't take for some reason).

Robert Craft on Naxos, swift at 20:10, captures a certain "blow top" frenzy at times, especially at the very end, which I like:

http://www.amazon.com/Pierrot-Lunaire-Schoenberg/dp/B000MRP1S2/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1372625878&sr=1-2&keywords=craft+schoenberg+pierrot

Horenstein's on Vox is very slow (more than 26 minutes), but there are things he gets that I can't forget.

http://www.amazon.com/Till-Eulenspiegel-Merry-Pranks-Strauss/dp/B000001K5U/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1372626395&sr=1-5&keywords=Horenstein+schoenberg

[StarThrower]

I have this 2 CD EMI set conducted by Simon Rattle. I prefer some of Rattle's interpretations to Boulez, who has a softer approach. I like Rattle's edgier feel.

http://www.amazon.com/Schoenberg-Verkl%C3%A4rte-Orchestral-Symphonies-Variations/dp/B0018OAP4I/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1372629840&sr=1-2&keywords=schoenberg+rattle

[J.A.W.]

I second Larry's recommendation of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra's version:

Amazon U.K.: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schoenberg-Verklarte-Nacht-Chamber-Symphonies/dp/B000001GCA/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1372630812&sr=1-2&keywords=Orpheus+Schoenberg

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Schoenberg-Verkl%C3%A4rte-Nacht-Chamber-Symphonies/dp/B000001GCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372630916&sr=8-1&keywords=B000001GCA

Simon Rattle is not my cup of tea. There are a few conductors whose work doesn't click with me, and he's one of them. Leonard Bernstein is another, and so are Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim and Michael Tilson Thomas - to name but a few

Edited June 30, 2013 by J.A.W.

[Spontooneous]

Second for Holliger, one of the very best.

I've never liked Boulez in this piece.

It's worthwhile to look up the bigger-orchestra arrangement recorded by Eliahu Inbal on Philips, coupled on a budget reissue with Ozawa's Gurrelieder.

[StarThrower]

I second Larry's recommendation of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra's version:

Amazon U.K.: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schoenberg-Verklarte-Nacht-Chamber-Symphonies/dp/B000001GCA/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1372630812&sr=1-2&keywords=Orpheus+Schoenberg

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Schoenberg-Verkl%C3%A4rte-Nacht-Chamber-Symphonies/dp/B000001GCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372630916&sr=8-1&keywords=B000001GCA

Simon Rattle is not my cup of tea. There are a few conductors whose work doesn't click with me, and he's one of them. Leonard Bernstein is another, and so are Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim and Michael Tilson Thomas - to name but a few

Ha! Those are several of my favorites! I love Tilson Thomas's Ives symphonies on Sony. I don't have anything by Barenboim.

[Larry Kart]

Been on a something of a Bernstein kick lately -- his Mozart Requiem, his Beethoven 6th, and an old and cheap Columbia LP of some Ravel -- Mother Goose Suite, Rapsodie Espagnole, and La Valse. Got it to see what NYPO oboist Ralph Gomberg would sound like in the second movement of Mother Goose Suite, but put on La Valse first and was blown away. A bit over the top at times, but what intensity and insight.

[J.A.W.]

Been on a something of a Bernstein kick lately -- his Mozart Requiem, his Beethoven 6th, and an old and cheap Columbia LP of some Ravel -- Mother Goose Suite, Rapsodie Espagnole, and La Valse. Got it to see what NYPO oboist Ralph Gomberg would sound like in the second movement of Mother Goose Suite, but put on La Valse first and was blown away. A bit over the top at times, but what intensity and insight.

To my ears many of his interpretations are way over the top: overly expressive and emotional, sentimental even. Can't listen to them. To each their own

I wonder if it's a cultural thing. Many Americans adore or even idolize him, but in Europe he's not that much appreciated; I've read and heard more negative than positive reactions to his work here.

Edited June 30, 2013 by J.A.W.

[Larry Kart]

Make that Harold Gomberg as the oboist I was curious about in Bernstein's Mother Goose Suite. Ralph Gomberg, his brother, was the principal oboist with the Boston Symphony.

[RiRiIII]

Gielen all the way as well, with a marvelous PC with Brendel.

Edited July 1, 2013 by Alexandros

[RiRiIII]

I have this 2 CD EMI set conducted by Simon Rattle. I prefer some of Rattle's interpretations to Boulez, who has a softer approach. I like Rattle's edgier feel.

http://www.amazon.com/Schoenberg-Verkl%C3%A4rte-Orchestral-Symphonies-Variations/dp/B0018OAP4I/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1372629840&sr=1-2&keywords=schoenberg+rattle

Thanks! Rattle has recorded the Full Orchestra version as well, recently with the BPO:

Edited July 1, 2013 by Alexandros

[David Ayers]

Thanks Larry and all for the recs and links (makes life very easy!). I'm making an effort to work through these. As for that Boulez recording, it maybe worked better in the LP age, but unfortunately for me I don't get on two well with some of those Sony SBM remasters.

[David Ayers]

FWIW here's what I managed to find on spotify [Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 9], doesn't cover all of above, but a few alternatives, and does include some of the arrangements. I'm in the market for CDs though.

Edited July 1, 2013 by David Ayers

[king ubu]

Just in case, the Holliger recording can also be found on this fine box:

costs plenty in the US it seems, but on amazon.de, the price is quite alright