There is some very powerful music making in this 3 CD set. To begin with there are three works by Schoenberg. His Pelleas und Melisande was wonderfully played with great flair and passion. The orchestra gave it everything! Schoenberg’s Variations for Orchestra has a wonderful sound world and this version of Verklarte Nacht is a suitably sensitive yet passionate version that is full of emotion.
Berg’s Three Pieces for Orchestra is challenging yet exciting and is once again full of passion and power, aggressive even. His Three Pieces from the Lyric Suite was not to my taste but it was very well played.
I am not at all familiar with the music of Webern so this has been an interesting excursion for me. The works that are included are Passacaglia, Five Movements, Six Pieces for Orchestra and Symphony. The sound world is interesting but the music did not thrill, captivate or enthral me but once again the playing and the performances are impeccable.