Herbert von Karajan – Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht, Pelléas und Mélisande (1974/2018) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Arnold Schoenberg is best known as an atonal modernist, but before he made the 12-tone Faustian bargain, he was a Viennese late romantic. These two works are from his early romantic period, and they are wonderful. Both are programmatic works. Verklärte Nacht is based on a poem describing a woman’s late night confession to her lover that she bears a child from another man, and his acceptance and forgiveness. Pelleas und Melisande is based on a play describing an illicit love affair, somewhat similar to the story of Francesca da Rimini. But the stories don’t really matter because the music is so lovely. This style is firmly within von Karajan’s wheelhouse, and his performance doesn’t disappoint. If you love Mahler and Strauss and fin de siècle orchestral decadence, you will enjoy this.

“. . . this is a staggering display of orchestral control and structural mastery.” (James Jolly, Gramophone)

“Two ultra-romantic tone poems given opulently colourful, passionate performances.” (Calum McDonald, BBC Music Magazine)

Tracklist:
01. Herbert von Karajan – Verklärte Nacht, Op.4: 1. Grave (Arr. for String Orchestra by Schoenberg – 1943 Revised Version) (06:36)
02. Herbert von Karajan – Verklärte Nacht, Op.4: 2. Molto rallentando (Arr. for String Orchestra by Schoenberg – 1943 Revised Version) (05:50)
03. Herbert von Karajan – Verklärte Nacht, Op.4: 3. Pesante (Arr. for String Orchestra by Schoenberg – 1943 Revised Version) (02:24)
04. Herbert von Karajan – Verklärte Nacht, Op.4: 4. Adagio (Arr. for String Orchestra by Schoenberg – 1943 Revised Version) (10:23)
05. Herbert von Karajan – Verklärte Nacht, Op.4: 5. Adagio (Arr. for String Orchestra by Schoenberg – 1943 Revised Version) (04:40)
06. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 1. Die Achtel ein wenig bewegt – zögernd (04:29)
07. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 2. Heftig (03:06)
08. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 3. Lebhaft (03:59)
09. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 4. Sehr rasch (07:13)
10. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 5. Ein wenig bewegt (01:21)
11. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 6. Langsam (03:22)
12. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 7. Ein wenig bewegter (04:08)
13. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 8. Sehr langsam (04:42)
14. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 9. Etwas bewegt (02:23)
15. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 10. In gehender Bewegung (02:27)
16. Herbert von Karajan – Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5: 11. Breit (06:12)