Schoenberg: Erwartung; Cabaret Songs

Dive into the profound and captivating world of Arnold Schoenberg with this remarkable 1993 release, "Schoenberg: Erwartung; Cabaret Songs." This album offers a unique blend of Schoenberg's groundbreaking compositions, showcasing his innovative approach to classical music.

The album opens with "Erwartung, Op. 17," a monodrama that explores the psychological turmoil of a woman searching for her lover in a dark forest. This intense and dramatic work is a seminal piece in Schoenberg's oeuvre, demonstrating his mastery of atonality and expressionism. Each track within "Erwartung" delves deeper into the protagonist's despair and confusion, providing a raw and unfiltered glimpse into her inner turmoil.

The second half of the album features "Cabaret Songs for voice & chamber orchestra," a collection of witty and irreverent songs that Schoenberg composed for the Überbrettl in Berlin. These songs, written in 1901, offer a stark contrast to the intensity of "Erwartung," showcasing Schoenberg's versatility and humor. From the playful "Gigerlette" to the poignant "Nachtwandler," these cabaret songs are a delightful exploration of human nature and societal norms.

This album, released under the Decca Music Group Ltd. label, spans a duration of approximately 62 minutes. The performances are conducted by the renowned James Levine, with Jessye Norman delivering a powerful and nuanced vocal performance. The combination of Norman's voice and Levine's conducting brings Schoenberg's complex compositions to life, making this album a essential addition to any classical music enthusiast's collection.

Arnold Schoenberg, born in Vienna in 1874, was a revolutionary figure in 20th-century classical music, renowned for his groundbreaking compositions and theoretical innovations. As a composer, Schoenberg was among the first to challenge traditional harmony, pioneering atonality and developing the twelve-tone technique, which uses a specific order of all twelve pitches in the chromatic scale. This method, also known as serialism, had a profound impact on the course of modern music.

Schoenberg's music is characterized by its use of motives to create coherence and his exploration of dissonance. He was also a prolific writer and teacher, influencing generations of composers, including Alban Berg and Anton Webern. Beyond music, Schoenberg was a multifaceted artist who also painted and invented. His legacy extends far beyond his compositions, encompassing his influential teachings and writings that continue to shape the way we understand and create music today. Schoenberg's journey from his early works to his atonal innovations and twelve-tone technique is a testament to his enduring influence on classical music.