Janet Baker: Schoenberg and Wellesz

The six songs come from a recital Janet Baker gave devoted entirely to the songs of Arnold Schoenberg, accompanied by Paul Hamburger.  The recital begins with four songs from his sets Op 2, 3, composed around the turn of the century when Schoenberg was also working on his massive cantata Gurrelieder.  The subject matter is deeply romantic, depicting various aspects of feelings of love and the music is richly tonal.  The selection ends with two songs from his Op 6 set, published in 1903, when Schoenberg was moving towards atonality.

Janet Baker next sings The Song of the Wood Dove, from Schoenberg’s massive cantata Gürrelieder, written between 1900 and 1910. This version was arranged by Schoenberg for chamber ensemble, here played by the Wigmore Ensemble and the Amici Quartet and conducted by Jacques-Louis Monot.

Egon Wellesz studied in Vienna under Arnold Schoeberg.  He wrote his song cycle for voice and chamber ensemble in 1944.  Janet Baker is acompanied by the Melos Ensemble.

Arnold Schoenberg (1974  1951)

Track 1:

1. Hochzeitslied
2. Freihold
3. Erwartung
4. Waldsonne
5. Traumleben
6. Der Wanderer

Track 2:

The Song of the Wood Dove, from Gürrelieder (arr. Schoenberg)

Track 3:

Egon Wellesz (1885 – 1974)

The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo

The Schoenberg songs were recorded on 20 October 1967.

The Song of the Wood Bird was recorded on 22 January 1968.

The Wellesz cycle was recorded on 14 December 1966.

All the recordings are from the Saul Collection at Music Preserved.

• Janet Baker
  Mezzo-soprano
• Paul Hamburger (Six songs)
  Piano
• Melos Ensemble (Wellesz)
  
• Wigmore Ensemble (Song of the Wood Dove)
  
• Amici Quartet (Song of the Wood Dove)
  
• Jacques-Louis Monot (Song of the Wood Dove)
  Conductor