ANTON WEBERN

ANTON WEBERN
SYMPHONY
SIX PIECES FOR LARGE ORCHESTRA (2005)
320 KBPS

Robert Craft's advocacy on behalf of Anton Webern dates back to his "complete" pioneering 1954 cycle for Columbia Masterworks. Since that time, of course, musicians have absorbed these scores with increasing refinement and accuracy. The same can be said in regard to recording engineers and digital technology. These are all good reasons for Craft to embark on a brand new Webern cycle.
The 11 opus-numbered pieces included in this first volume represent an ideal sampling of chamber, solo, vocal, and orchestral work to attract listeners who want to get to know the composer's concise and extremely concentrated "pocket music" style. Best of all, the performances are all we could wish for.
Craft elicits impressive clarity and delicacy from the Philharmonia Orchestra in the two-movement Op. 21 Symphony and in the Six Pieces Op. 6 (even the super-soft tam-tam strokes in the latter's fourth piece make themselves felt) while imparting a welcome conversational sensibility to the Concerto for Nine Instruments' mosaic-like scoring. Both violinist Jesse Mills and cellist Fred Sherry prove more eloquent foils to their respective, expressionistically aggressive DG Boulez/Webern edition counterparts in Op. 7 and Op. 11.
Much as I admire DG soprano Christiane Oelze's frightening accuracy and tonal evenness in the Op. 16, 17, and 18 song groups, Jennifer Welch-Babidge manipulates her smaller voice to more playful effect, abetted by her like-minded instrumental collaborators. Christopher Oldfather's limpid, direct account of the Op. 27 Variations merits special mention, even in the face of Piotr Anderszewski's extraordinarily detailed reference version (Virgin Classics). Lastly, Craft's booklet notes match the intelligence and insight of his music making. May subsequent volumes of the Naxos Robert Craft Webern Edition share this one's sonic and interpretive distinctions.

Symphony, Op. 21
1. I. Ruhig, schreitend
2. II. Variationen
5 Canons on Latin Texts, Op. 16
3. Christus factus est
4. Dormi Jesu
5. Crux fidelis
6. Asperges me
7. Crucem tuam adoramus
3 Volkstexte (Traditional Rhymes), Op. 17
8. Armer Sunder, du
9. Heiland, unsre Missetaten
10. Liebste Jungfrau, wir sind dein
3 Songs, Op. 18
11. Schatzerl klein
12. Erlosung (from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn")
13. Ave Regina coelorum
String Trio, Op. 20
14. I. Sehr langsam
15. II. Sehr getragen und ausdrucksvoll
Quartet, Op. 22
16. I. Sehr massig
17. II. Sehr schwungvoll
Variations for Piano, Op. 27
18. I. Sehr massig
19. II. Sehr schnell
20. III. Ruhig fliessend
6 Pieces, Op. 6 (revised version)
21. I. Langsam
22. II. Bewegt
23. III. Massig
24. IV. Sehr massig
25. V. Sehr langsam
26. VI. Langsam

4 Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 7
27. I. Sehr langsam
28. II. Rasch
29. III. Sehr langsam
30. IV. Bewegt
3 Pieces for Cello and Piano, Op. 11
31. I. Massige
32. II. Sehr bewegt
33. III. Ausserst ruhig
Concerto for Nine Instruments, Op. 24
34. I. Etwas lebhaft
35. II. Sehr langsam
36. III. Sehr rasch
Schubert, Franz: Deutsche Tanze, D. 820 (orch. A. Webern)
37. I
38. II
39. III
40. IV
41. V
42. VI