At the end of the alphabet: Zemlinsky

[Baron Scarpia]

I see there is a Hyperion recording of the Symphonies, any comments?

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I usually think of Brabbins as workmanlike but not inspired.

[Baron Scarpia]

I think I will spring for the Dausgaard Sinfonietta, and look for recordings of the string quartets (I have at least one of them as a filler on a disc, but not the set). Any recommendations for the quartets from partisans of them? I noticed there is a Chandos set, and maybe one on DGG. The vocal music doesn't interest me, although I have and like a DVD of "The Dwarf."

[Karl Henning]

Parenthetically, I sprang for the Dausgaard Sinfonietta, myself.

[Baron Scarpia]

Parenthetically, I sprang for the Dausgaard Sinfonietta, myself.

Big day for Dausgaard, he might be able to treat himself to a nice cafe latte with the revenue he's collected today!

[SurprisedByBeauty]

I think I will spring for the Dausgaard Sinfonietta, and look for recordings of the string quartets (I have at least one of them as a filler on a disc, but not the set). Any recommendations for the quartets from partisans of them? I noticed there is a Chandos set, and maybe one on DGG.

There are two Chandos sets, aren't there? One with the Schoenberg Quartet and one with the Brodsky Quartet (most complete but a dud).
I don't have and know the La Salle Quartet's version, but I'm intrigued!

I like this disc of SQ4ts 2 & 4 quite a bit... with the aptly named Zemlinksy Quartet on Praga. (the other two are here; I will get them before long; it might be my favorite cycle then.)
Ditto the Escher Quartet on Naxos, which I reckon ought to be pretty good. Corda quartet's cycle I don't know.

You may not like to hear it, but I'm actually most enamored by the Artis Quartet's performances (1 & 2; 3 & 4) on ... you've guessed it: Nimbus.

The vocal music doesn't interest me, although I have and like a DVD of "The Dwarf."

That's a pity... because I think that Zemlinsky might be at his best in the orchestral songs... http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2006/04/dip-your-ears-no-56.html

[Cato]

That's a pity... because I think that Zemlinsky might be at his best in the orchestral songs... http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2006/04/dip-your-ears-no-56.html

Amen!  One of the greatest works ever: the 6 Orchestral Songs Opus 13 on texts by Maeterlinck.

[Karl Henning]

I think I will spring for the Dausgaard Sinfonietta, and look for recordings of the string quartets (I have at least one of them as a filler on a disc, but not the set). Any recommendations for the quartets from partisans of them?

I have not listened to others for comparison, I do like the LaSalle Quartet:

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[Jo498]

Note that the symphonies are very early works, unlike the "Lyrische Symphonie" and Sinfonietta.

Of the quartets, I have heard several disks. The most "viennese" must be the Artis, the LaSalle was the first complete recording and it holds up quite well although the sound and playing is no way as luscious as the Artis. The Naxos also seems very good, so if the price is an issue, go for them.

[Baron Scarpia]

There are two Chandos sets, aren't there? One with the Schoenberg Quartet and one with the Brodsky Quartet (most complete but a dud).
I don't have and know the La Salle Quartet's version, but I'm intrigued!

I like this disc of SQ4ts 2 & 4 quite a bit... with the aptly named Zemlinksy Quartet on Praga. (the other two are here; I will get them before long; it might be my favorite cycle then.)
Ditto the Escher Quartet on Naxos, which I reckon ought to be pretty good. Corda quartet's cycle I don't know.

You may not like to hear it, but I'm actually most enamored by the Artis Quartet's performances (1 & 2; 3 & 4) on ... you've guessed it: Nimbus.

That's a pity... because I think that Zemlinsky might be at his best in the orchestral songs... http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2006/04/dip-your-ears-no-56.html

Those two Praga releases don't make a cycle, 1+4 and 2+4, no 3, and they're by two different ensembles (The Praga quartet and the Zemlinsky quartet, confusing one quartet with same name as the label, the other with the same name as the composer.). I already have the one with 1+4.

I'm sure the La Salle is good, but early digital DGG string quartets recording seems like a recipe for disaster. I think I'll give the Schoenberg quartet a try.

[Baron Scarpia]

I have not listened to others for comparison, I do like the LaSalle Quartet:

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That box is a temptation, I admit. I loved the La Salle when I had their late Beethoven on vinyl, but on CD DGG transformed it into a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard concerto. I fear the same here.

[ritter]

Those two Praga releases don't make a cycle, 1+4 and 2+4, no 3, and they're by two different ensembles (The Praga quartet and the Zemlinsky quartet, confusing one quartet with same name as the label, the other with the same name as the composer.). I already have the one with 1+4.

I'm sure the La Salle is good, but early digital DGG string quartets recording seems like a recipe for disaster. I think I'll give the Schoenberg quartet a try.

FWIW, I got the Schoenberg Quartet set on Chandos about a year ago, and enjoyed it a lot. I found  Zemlinsky 's SQ No. 3, op. 19 an impressive achievement.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Those two Praga releases don't make a cycle, 1+4 and 2+4, no 3, and they're by two different ensembles (The Praga quartet and the Zemlinsky quartet, confusing one quartet with same name as the label, the other with the same name as the composer.). I already have the one with 1+4.

I'm sure the La Salle is good, but early digital DGG string quartets recording seems like a recipe for disaster. I think I'll give the Schoenberg quartet a try.

I knew something didn't add up there, with nearly 20 years between the two releases. 

[Karl Henning]

FWIW, I got the Schoenberg Quartet set on Chandos about a year ago, and enjoyed it a lot. I found  Zemlinsky ‘s SQ No. 3, op. 19 an impressive achievement.

The Schoenberg Quartet sure did great Schoenberg.

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[kyjo]

I'm quite fond of Zemlinsky's dark and ultra-chromatic String Quartet no. 2, which inhabits much the same sound-world of Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht and String Quartet no. 1. I was less impressed with Zemlinsky's premier work in the genre, finding it lacking in memorable ideas. I haven't heard his 3rd and 4th quartets yet.

[Jo498]

The first string quartet is, while not quite a student work, still very much in the Brahms or even Dvorak vein, similar to the "zeroth" quartet by Schoenberg. I agree that the 2nd is a very important piece. The two later ones are also good but again different, less romantic-expressionist, shorter and more neoclassicist. Very roughly like the Sinfonietta compared to the Mermaid or the Lyric Symphony

[Karl Henning]

I cannot find more info on the audience reponse right now either, only confirm that both pieces were indeed played for the first time in one concert on January 25th 1906.

From Paul Banks' notes to the Chandos CD of Die Seejungfrau &c.:

It was at one of the [Schaffender Tonkünstler in Wien] concerts, on 25 January 1905, that Zemlinsky conducted the première of his symphonic poem Die Seejungfrau . . . The work should have marked an important step in Zemlinsky's creative life, but it had the misfortune to be heard for the first time alongside the première of another, even greater work, Schoenberg's Pelleas und Melisande.  Zemlinsky was so taken aback by the relative coolness of the audience's response that he withdrew his piece, and it remained unheard (indeed was considered 'lost') until 1984.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

By sort-of unrelated coincidence, that Cornelius Meister Mermaid is swimming my way now... so I can put my prejudice to the test, at last.

[NikF]

While linking to a cover image of a Szymanowski CD via Amazon I found this composer in the 'Customers who bought this item also bought' section. A (very) brief listen to the samples on the page was interesting. So would this recording of String Quartets be representative/worthwhile? Or is there another recommendation? Do tell. Cheers.

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[Baron Scarpia]

Ironically, if you scroll up you'll see some discussion of just this subject.

I don't know that release. I've recently listened to the 4th quartet by the LaSalle Quartet and Praga quartet, and enjoyed both.

[NikF]

Ironically, if you scroll up you'll see some discussion of just this subject.

I don't know that release. I've recently listened to the 4th quartet by the LaSalle Quartet and Praga quartet, and enjoyed both.

I should have read the thread more thoroughly?  Yeah, I just skimmed it.

I've noted your recommendations for the fourth. Cheers.