New music, just released
This edition of Ongehoord explores two new recordings of solo instrumental works by two major twentieth-century composers: Benjamin Britten and Arnold Schönberg.
Cellist Pieter Wispelwey has recorded Britten’s three Cello Suites for the third time. Clearly close to his heart, these works were originally written for the great Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. We hear the First Suite, a nine-part work that Wispelwey describes as a collection of stories, ranging from playful and surreal to sad, dramatic, teasing and exuberant.
Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard recently recorded an album featuring Schönberg’s major piano works. The programme opens with the Sechs kleine Klavierstücke, whose final movement is a memorial to Gustav Mahler. This is followed by the Suite für Klavier, the first work in which Schönberg applied the twelve-tone technique throughout all its movements, while retaining a distinctly dance-like character. The programme concludes with the Klavierstücke, Op. 33, examples of pure twelve-tone music.
Playlist
1. Benjamin Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72 (1964)
- Canto primo: Sostenuto e largamente
- I. Fuga: Andante moderato
- II. Lamento: Lento rubato
- Canto secondo: Sostenuto
- III. Serenata: Allegretto pizzicato
- IV. Marcia: Alla marcia moderato
- Canto terzo: Sostenuto
- V. Bordone: Moderato quasi recitativo
- VI. Moto perpetuo e canto quarto: Presto
Pieter Wispelwey (cello)
Evil Penguin Classic EPRC0086
2. Arnold Schönberg: Sechs kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19 (1911)
I. Leicht, zart
II. Langsam
III. Sehr langsam
IV. Rasch, aber leicht
V. Etwas rasch
VI. Sehr langsam
3. Arnold Schönberg: Suite für Klavier, Op. 25 (1921–1923)
I. Präludium
II. Gavotte – Musette
III. Intermezzo
IV. Menuet
V. Gigue
4. Arnold Schönberg: Klavierstücke, Op. 33 (1928–1931)
I. Mäßig
II. Mäßig langsam
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano)
Alpha Classics ALPHA1281
Photo: Pieter Wispelwey © Carolien Sikkenk
