Best CD Recordings of "Lulu"

[AndyD.]

I've acquired quite an interest in Alban Berg's works in the past months, and I'd really appreciate a rating of the best performances of his opera "Lulu". This will be my first purchase.

[Todd]

As much as I enjoy this work, I've only managed to hear three versions, and only two on CD.  I say go with the full, three act version, otherwise you miss a lot of story and character development.  You really need to follow what happens to Lulu all the way through.  For this, I say try Boulez and Teresa Stratas.  Top notch.  Karl Bohm was a champion of this work as well, though obviously in its two act variant, and his 60s recording with Anja Silja in the lead is quite good, but you miss that last act.  If you can consider DVD, the Andrew Davis version with Christine Schafer is quite fine as well.

[Opus106]

I've acquired quite an interest in Alban Berg's works in the past months...

And I, officially, did the same just about a day ago. In fact, it's likely that I was watching a clip from Wozzek just as you were typing your post!

Thread duty: as you may have guessed, I don't have an answer to your question. But in case it should help, here's the GMG 'Berg' thread. And welcome back!

[Mirror Image]

Lulu is any interesting opera, but I actually enjoyed Wozzeck more. The only Lulu I heard was Boulez's recording on DG, which is quite good. The only Wozzeck I've heard is from Abbado, which was decent, but I think there are probably better recordings of this opera available (i. e. Bohm, Barenboim, Dohnanyi).

Have you heard the Lulu Suite yet? I much prefer this to the opera. There are many great performances of this work available. Here are a few of my favorite Berg recordings:

[AndyD.]

And I, officially, did the same just about a day ago. In fact, it's likely that I was watching a clip from Wozzek just as you were typing your post!

Thread duty: as you may have guessed, I don't have an answer to your question. But in case it should help, here's the GMG 'Berg' thread. And welcome back!

Hi! Thanks so much for the greetings! Always great to have a place to hit when I need help, and to be welcomed!

Very grateful for everybody's help! I'm checking up on each. I am a fan of both Boulez and Stratas, so that one is looking good for a first.

[bhodges]

And another vote for Boulez/Stratas. I've also seen Christine Schäfer do the role at the Met, and she was sensational, but haven't heard her recording yet.

[asin]B00004R7X8[/asin]

--Bruce

[marvinbrown]

And another vote for Boulez/Stratas. I've also seen Christine Schäfer do the role at the Met, and she was sensational, but haven't heard her recording yet.

[asin]B00004R7X8[/asin]

--Bruce

  And another vote from me for the Boulez/Stratas recording.

  marvin

[AndyD.]

It's in my cart, thanks so much!

And HI MARVIN!

[Mirror Image]

It's in my cart, thanks so much!

And HI MARVIN!

Andy, before you buy this recording, which I pray you haven't, you may seriously want to consider this set:

[asin]B0000B09Z4[/asin]

Here are the contents of this box:

Drei Orchesterstücke, Op. 6
Lyric Suite - three movements for string orchestra (1928)
Violin Concerto 'To the Memory of an Angel' (1935)
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin)
Chamber Concerto for Piano and Violin with 13 Wind Instruments
Daniel Barenboim (piano), Pinchas Zukerman (violin)
Piano Sonata, Op. 1
Daniel Barenboim (piano)
Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 5
Sabine Meyer (clarinet), Oleg Maisenberg (piano)
Lyric Suite - for string quartet (1926)
String Quartet, Op. 3
Sieben frühe Lieder
Anne-Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano), Bengt Forsberg (piano)
Schliesse mir die Augen beide
An Leukon
Schliesse mir die Augen beide
Margaret Marshall (soprano), Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Vier Lieder, Op. 2
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Aribert Reimann (piano)
Sieben frühe Lieder
5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg, Op. 4
Der Wein
Lulu-Symphonie - Soprano and orchestra
Lulu
Wozzeck
Strauss, J, II:
Wein, Weib und Gesang, Op. 333
(trans. Alban Berg)

This set contains the Boulez Lulu recording and plus you will have all of Berg's music in one box with superlative performances all-around. You get more music with this set rather than buying Lulu separately. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but I think since you seem to have an interest in the composer, you'll want this set in your collection.

[Wendell_E]

I say go with the full, three act version, otherwise you miss a lot of story and character development. 

Not to mention a lot of music, and Berg did essentially complete the opera.  This opera has been an obsession of mine for decades.  I've got eight versions on CD and three on DVD (and have pre-ordered a fourth).  I'd cast another vote for Boulez-Stratas on CD, and if you're in the market for a DVD, the Glyndebourne Festival one with Schäfer.

Andy, before you buy this recording, which I pray you haven't, you may seriously want to consider this set:

[asin]B0000B09Z4[/asin]

A great set, but as usual with those sets, no librettos or other sung texts.

[Mirror Image]

A great set, but as usual with those sets, no librettos or other sung texts.

No, but that can easily be obtained online somewhere. This is an essential set for Berg fans.

[AndyD.]

Andy, before you buy this recording, which I pray you haven't, you may seriously want to consider this set:

[asin]B0000B09Z4[/asin]

Here are the contents of this box:

Drei Orchesterstücke, Op. 6
Lyric Suite - three movements for string orchestra (1928)
Violin Concerto 'To the Memory of an Angel' (1935)
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin)
Chamber Concerto for Piano and Violin with 13 Wind Instruments
Daniel Barenboim (piano), Pinchas Zukerman (violin)
Piano Sonata, Op. 1
Daniel Barenboim (piano)
Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 5
Sabine Meyer (clarinet), Oleg Maisenberg (piano)
Lyric Suite - for string quartet (1926)
String Quartet, Op. 3
Sieben frühe Lieder
Anne-Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano), Bengt Forsberg (piano)
Schliesse mir die Augen beide
An Leukon
Schliesse mir die Augen beide
Margaret Marshall (soprano), Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Vier Lieder, Op. 2
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Aribert Reimann (piano)
Sieben frühe Lieder
5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg, Op. 4
Der Wein
Lulu-Symphonie - Soprano and orchestra
Lulu
Wozzeck
Strauss, J, II:
Wein, Weib und Gesang, Op. 333
(trans. Alban Berg)

This set contains the Boulez Lulu recording and plus you will have all of Berg's music in one box with superlative performances all-around. You get more music with this set rather than buying Lulu separately. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but I think since you seem to have an interest in the composer, you'll want this set in your collection.

OOOOO. Glad I didn't grab the other yet. I've got to investigate this one, thank you!

[Mirror Image]

OOOOO. Glad I didn't grab the other yet. I've got to investigate this one, thank you!

You're welcome, Andy! Get your atonal on!!!

[val]

The version of Boulez is my favorite. The work was completed by Friedrich Cehra. The direction is splendid, the performances of Stratas and Minton are astounding.

The other version I have is much more pale. Karl Böhm seems very distant and Evelyn Lear has not the dramatic presence of Stratas. But this CD includes one of the best versions of Wozzeck (Fischer-Dieskau, Karl Böhm).