ANTON WEBERN : Complete Webern (Pierre Boulez) 6xCD Box-Set (2000) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

Those who are familiar with Pierre Boulez's earlier "Complete Webern" on Sony will notice that his new Deutsche Grammophon edition contains six discs to Sony's three. That's because Sony only included works for which Webern assigned opus numbers, plus the composer's Schubert and Bach arrangements. DG fleshes out the picture with all of Webern's posthumously published music, mostly dating from his apprentice years. Virtually all of these recordings already have been available. Discs one through three are given over to orchestral, choral, and chamber works with Boulez leading the Berlin Philharmonic, BBC Singers, and the Ensemble Intercontemporain. Soprano Christiane Oelze's survey of Webern's lieder with voice and piano occupies disc four, with the addition of three unreleased songs set to poems by Ferdinand Avenarius. On disc five, the Emerson Quartet plays all the string trio and quartet works. The final disc brings together the cello and piano music, the four pieces Op. 7 for violin and piano, and the piano works. Gianluca Cascioli's traversals of both 1906 movements for piano were previously released, while Krystian Zimerman recorded two tiny pieces and the Op. 27 Piano Variations especially for this collection.

We first encounter Webern writing music in a style that resembles Brahms with a little Grieg mixed in for good measure. Soon his harmonic palette blossoms with chromatic complexity and takes a refined turn during studies with Arnold Schoenberg. Finally, Webern's singular voice emerges by way of pocket pieces whose ascetic contours sport asymmetrical rhythms, canonic lines that leapfrog from instrument to instrument, and rigorously organized pitches. There's no filler, no fat, and every note counts.

Sometimes it's hard to grasp such fleeting, fragile, and texturally exposed music in a single hearing. When I hear a Webern work in concert, for instance, it's usually over before it begins. Imagine passing a Joan Miró painting while riding a bicycle and you'll understand what I mean. You need to find quiet listening space and know that you can play a movement or even a whole piece more than once.

Performing Webern well demands the utmost in precision and concentration, yet without negating the music's passionate undercurrents. Boulez has lived with this music a long time, and the refinement of his latest interpretations beggar description. The sonic advantages of the DG recordings play no small part, in that fine-tuned dyanmic adjustments at quiet levels can be heard with no compromise. The conductor's tempos have broadened since his 1967-72 recordings in the aforementioned Sony set, and instrumental balances are smoother, more blended than before. Yet the ferocity and edginess of the earlier versions haven't been superceded. Nor is the elemental force and dynamism of Dohnanyi's superb Cleveland Webern readings surpassed here.

No qualms, though, concerning Christiane Oelze, who negotiates Webern's treacherous, leaping lines as if they were nursery rhymes. Similarly, the Emersons leave no little detail unscrutinized, and make a lean contrast to the more opulent, aristocratic Quartetto Italiano Webern recordings from the 1970s. I'm sorry the not-so-famous Cascioli wasn't brought back to record the piano works assigned to the better-known Zimerman, whose mincing, overwrought Variations lack the grace and eloquence of Peter Serkin's recent Koch version.

An excellent booklet includes an introduction by Boulez, numerous photos of Webern at work and play, an informative essay by Paul Griffiths, a comprehensive Webern timeline, and complete texts and translations. Whatever reservations one might harbor about this or that individual performance, it is unlikely that this set as a whole will be surpassed in the near future. It belongs in every serious music library, private or public. by Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com

Works on This Recording:

1. Passacaglia for Orchestra, Op. 1 by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1908; Vienna, Austria

2. Sätze (5) for String Quartet, Op. 5 by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1909; Preglhof

Notes: Orchestrated: Anton von Webern (1928-29)

3. Pieces (6) for Orchestra, Op. 6 by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1909/1928; Preglhof

4. Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: no 8, Ricercar a 6 by Johann Sebastian Bach

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Period: Baroque

Written: 1747; Leipzig, Germany

Notes: Orchestrated: Anton von Webern (1935)

5. German Dances (6) for Piano, D 820 by Franz Schubert

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Period: Romantic

Written: 1824; Vienna, Austria

Notes: Orchestrated: Anton von Webern (1931)

6. Im Sommerwind by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1904; Preglhof

7. Pieces (5) for Orchestra by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1913; Vienna, Austria

8. Orchestral Songs (3) by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1913-1914; Vienna, Austria

9. Symphony, Op. 21 by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1927-1928; Mödling, Austria

10. Das Augenlicht, Op. 26 by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Singers

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1935; Austria

11. Cantata no 1, Op. 29 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Singers

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1938-1939; Austria

12. Cantata no 2, Op. 31 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano), Gerald Finley (Bass)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Singers

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1941-1943; Austria

13. Quintet for Piano and Strings, M 118 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Pierre-Laurent Aimard (Piano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1907; Vienna, Austria

14. Entflieht auf leichten Kähnen, Op. 2 by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: BBC Singers

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1908/1914; Vienna, Austria

15. Rilke Lieder (2), Op. 8 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Françoise Pollet (Soprano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1910; Austria

16. Pieces (5) for Orchestra, Op. 10 by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1911-1913; Austria

17. Lieder (4), Op. 13 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Françoise Pollet (Soprano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1914-1918; Vienna, Austria

18. Trakl Lieder (6), Op. 14 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Françoise Pollet (Soprano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1917-1921; Vienna, Austria

19. Sacred Songs (5), Op. 15 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1921-1922; Austria

20. Canons (5) on Latin Texts, Op. 16 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1923-1924; Austria

21. Traditional Rhymes (3), Op. 17 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1924-1925; Austria

22. Lieder (3), Op. 18 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1925; Vienna, Austria

23. Lieder (2), Op. 19 by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain, BBC Singers

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1926; Vienna, Austria

24. Quartet for Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Piano and Violin, Op. 22 by Anton von Webern

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1928-1930; Mödling, Austria

25. Concerto, Op. 24 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Pierre-Laurent Aimard (Piano)

Conductor: Pierre Boulez

Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble InterContemporain

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1931-1934; Austria

26. Poems (3) by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano), Eric Schneider (Piano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1899-1903; Vienna, Austria

27. Early Lieder (8) by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano), Eric Schneider (Piano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1901-1904; Austria

28. Avenarius Lieder (3) by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano), Eric Schneider (Piano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1903-1904; Vienna, Austria

29. Dehmel Lieder (5) by Anton von Webern

Performer: Eric Schneider (Piano), Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1906-1908; Vienna, Austria

30. George Lieder (4) by Anton von Webern

Performer: Eric Schneider (Piano), Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1908-1909; Austria

31. Lieder (4), Op. 12 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Eric Schneider (Piano), Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1915-1917; Vienna, Austria

32. George Lieders (5), Op. 4 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Eric Schneider (Piano), Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1908-1909; Austria

33. Lieder (3) from Viae inviae, Op. 23 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Eric Schneider (Piano), Christiane Oelze (Soprano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1933-1934; Austria

34. Jone Lieder (3), Op. 25 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Christiane Oelze (Soprano), Eric Schneider (Piano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1934; Austria

35. Langsamer Satz for String Quartet, M 78 by Anton von Webern

Orchestra/Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1905; Vienna, Austria

36. Quartet for Strings, M 79 by Anton von Webern

Orchestra/Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1905; Preglhof

37. Bagatelles (6) for String Quartet, Op. 9 by Anton von Webern

Orchestra/Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1911-1913; Austria

38. Rondo for String Quartet, M 115 by Anton von Webern

Orchestra/Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1906; Vienna, Austria

39. Satz for String Trio, M 278 by Anton von Webern

Orchestra/Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1925; Mödling, Austria

40. Pieces (3) for String Quartet by Anton von Webern

Performer: Mary Ann McCormick (Soprano)

Orchestra/Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1913; Vienna, Austria

41. Trio for Strings, Op. 20 by Anton von Webern

Orchestra/Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet members

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1927; Vienna, Austria

42. Quartet for Strings, Op. 28 by Anton von Webern

Orchestra/Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1936-1938; Austria

43. Little Pieces (3) for Cello and Piano, Op. 11 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Oleg Maisenberg (Piano), Clemens Hagen (Cello)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1914; Vienna, Austria

44. Sonaten Satz for Piano, M 114 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Gianluca Cascioli (Piano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1906; Austria

45. Satz for Piano, M 112 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Gianluca Cascioli (Piano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1906; Austria

46. Pieces (4) for Violin and Piano, Op. 7 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Oleg Maisenberg (Piano), Gidon Kremer (Violin)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1910/1914; Preglhof

47. Sonata for Cello and Piano, M 202 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Oleg Maisenberg (Piano), Clemens Hagen (Cello)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1914; Vienna, Austria

48. Kinderstück, M 267 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Krystian Zimerman (Piano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1924; Austria

49. Variations for Piano, Op. 27 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Krystian Zimerman (Piano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1935-1936; Austria

50. Pieces (2) for Cello and Piano, M 1 - M 2 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Oleg Maisenberg (Piano), Clemens Hagen (Cello)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1899; Preglhof

51. Piece for Piano, M277 by Anton von Webern

Performer: Krystian Zimerman (Piano)

Period: 20th Century

Written: 1925; Austria

Credits:

Christiane Oelze, Gerald Finley, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Françoise Pollet, Eric Schneider, Mary Ann McCormick, Oleg Maisenberg, Clemens Hagen, Gianluca Cascioli, Gidon Kremer, Krystian Zimerman

Conductor: Pierre Boulez 

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Singers, Ensemble Inter Contemporain, 

Emerson String Quartet,

Emerson String Quartet members