At the end of the alphabet: Zemlinsky

[Karl Henning]

You'll like these, Nik 

[NikF]

You'll like these, Nik 

Yeah, even from the few bars in the short preview(s) they sound interesting.

[Jo498]

I have not done A-B comparison but I have the LaSalle, one disk of the Artis, another one and one of the Naxos and the Naxos recording holds up very well and I doubt that any of the other available recordings is obviously superior.

[Baron Scarpia]

The only recording of Zemlinsky quartets that didn't work for me was the Lark Quartet.

[SymphonicAddict]

Today, Die Seejungfrau has been around my ears. I had not contemplated its huge potential before. I've come to the conclusion that it is deservedly a masterpiece. Subtleties and sensuality are the main features I feel, there is a right balance between lyricism and power without being never bombastic. Some Scriabinesque touches enhance the feeling of beauty to it. The orchestration is luxuriant, a fine example of brilliant orchestral control.

All in all, I've fallen in love with it.

The Chailly's recording was the one I listened to. Details and atmosphere are given with a persuasive playing.

[Cato]

Today, Die Seejungfrau has been around my ears. I had not contemplated its huge potential before. I've come to the conclusion that it is deservedly a masterpiece. Subtleties and sensuality are the main features I feel, there is a right balance between lyricism and power without being never bombastic. Some Scriabinesque touches enhance the feeling of beauty to it. The orchestration is luxuriant, a fine example of brilliant orchestral control.

All in all, I've fallen in love with it.

The Chailly's recording was the one I listened to. Details and atmosphere are given with a persuasive playing.

Chailly really brings out the "luxuriant" aspects: an all-around A+ performance for an all-around A+ opus!  Allow me to recommend the 6 Orchesterlieder with texts by Maurice Maeterlinck. 

[vandermolen]

Today, Die Seejungfrau has been around my ears. I had not contemplated its huge potential before. I've come to the conclusion that it is deservedly a masterpiece. Subtleties and sensuality are the main features I feel, there is a right balance between lyricism and power without being never bombastic. Some Scriabinesque touches enhance the feeling of beauty to it. The orchestration is luxuriant, a fine example of brilliant orchestral control.

All in all, I've fallen in love with it.

The Chailly's recording was the one I listened to. Details and atmosphere are given with a persuasive playing.

It has the most magical opening in the watery depths and is my favourite work by Zemlinsky. That CD was also a comparatively recent acquisition for me and it is excellent in all respects.

[SymphonicAddict]

Chailly really brings out the "luxuriant" aspects: an all-around A+ performance for an all-around A+ opus!  Allow me to recommend the 6 Orchesterlieder with texts by Maurice Maeterlinck.

Oh yes, luxuriant is a quite apt word for the whole work and performance.

I'm gonna investigate the Lieder. Thanks for it.

[SymphonicAddict]

It has the most magical opening in the watery depths and is my favourite work by Zemlinsky. That CD was also a comparatively recent acquisition for me and it is excellent in all respects.

Indeed! The performance is a benchmark IMHO. The work is really magical from its very beginning. I'm still stunned by it.

[SymphonicAddict]

The choral/vocal works by Zemlinsky are interesting examples in the late-romantic tradition. I listened to some of them (Minnelied, Frühlingsglaube, Geheimnis, Waldgespräch, the Psalms, Frühlingsbegräbnis and the Maeterlinck-Lieder). I only knew his orchestral and some chamber works, but this part of his output is quite worth listening. The EMI set contains some of them.

In addition, a good revelation (among many recently) has been Ein Tanzpoem, or the intended ballet music to Das Glaserne Herz. Simply wonderful, a sort of ballet-poem as its name suggests, with appealing Viennese airs and some exciting moments. I enjoyed it a lot. It should be better known. It's not as spectacular as Die Seejungfrau but it's pretty close.

[Cato]

The choral/vocal works by Zemlinsky are interesting examples in the late-romantic tradition. I listened to some of them (Minnelied, Frühlingsglaube, Geheimnis, Waldgespräch, the Psalms, Frühlingsbegräbnis and the Maeterlinck-Lieder). I only knew his orchestral and some chamber works, but this part of his output is quite worth listening. The EMI set contains some of them.

In addition, a good revelation (among many recently) has been Ein Tanzpoem, or the intended ballet music to Das Glaserne Herz. Simply wonderful, a sort of ballet-poem as its name suggests, with appealing Viennese airs and some exciting moments. I enjoyed it a lot. It should be better known. It's not as spectacular as Die Seejungfrau but it's pretty close.

That is an excellent set! James Conlon and his German band are most excellent!

[Carlo Gesualdo]

I adore Zemlinsky more so than his pupil Arnold Schoenberg, The mermaid is one of my favorite symphony of his, I bet this composer as lot's more to offer.

[vers la flamme]

I listened to, and enjoyed, for the first time today, Zemlinsky's fourth string quartet, performed by the Lark Quartet. Wow, what a piece. I will be exploring more of Zemlinsky's music for sure. I want to get my hands on Chailly's recording of the Lyric Symphony. Is that a piece worth exploring, or just a copycat Das Lied von der Erde?  I listened to some of it earlier and liked what I was hearing.

[Mirror Image]

I listened to, and enjoyed, for the first time today, Zemlinsky's fourth string quartet, performed by the Lark Quartet. Wow, what a piece. I will be exploring more of Zemlinsky's music for sure. I want to get my hands on Chailly's recording of the Lyric Symphony. Is that a piece worth exploring, or just a copycat Das Lied von der Erde?  I listened to some of it earlier and liked what I was hearing.

Zemlinsky's Lyrische Symphonie is a great work and, no, it's not a copycat of Das Lied von der Erde. I'd try and get all of Chailly's Zemlinsky's recordings (if you can find them).

[Jo498]

Except for being a "song symphony" the lyric symphony seems quite different in mood etc. to Das Lied von der Erde. I have heard other instrumental workssuch as the Mermaid, but admittedly don't remember much. The Lyric symphony seems the best of them. There are several operas, I can recommend the Florentine Tragedy. And all of the string quartets.

[Roasted Swan]

I listened to, and enjoyed, for the first time today, Zemlinsky's fourth string quartet, performed by the Lark Quartet. Wow, what a piece. I will be exploring more of Zemlinsky's music for sure. I want to get my hands on Chailly's recording of the Lyric Symphony. Is that a piece worth exploring, or just a copycat Das Lied von der Erde?  I listened to some of it earlier and liked what I was hearing.

Absolutely 2nd what Mirror Image says about the the Lyric Symphony - no Das-Lied-lite this!  All the 4 quartets are extraordinary works.  Chailly is well served by the Decca engineers in his Zemlinsky recordings but there are other fine recordings too - I like Sinopoli in Dresden and Beaumont in Prague (Czech PO).  If you are at all into operas his 2 1-acters are powerful stuff too.

[vers la flamme]

Wow, what a prolific composer he was. I will likely look into the Lyric Symphony first (which I'm sure probably has very little to do with Das Lied in reality  ), and then explore the rest of the string quartets – I'm not much of an opera guy, unfortunately; this is what has stopped me from exploring further the music of Franz Schreker, another composer of this era whose music interests me. But I do appreciate the comments.

[Symphonic Addict]

I adore Zemlinsky more so than his pupil Arnold Schoenberg, The mermaid is one of my favorite symphony of his, I bet this composer as lot's more to offer.

Oh yes! And the Chailly/RCO recording does justice to the work. I love its sumptuous and sensuous harmonies mixed with that unbeatable orchestration.

[Symphonic Addict]

All the string quartets are more than good indeed, except his early SQ in E minor. Rather forgettable and down-watered IMO.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

First an foremost I would like to says Zemlinsky is one of my favorite composer of this era, romantic?

I find Zemlinsky's work The mermaids stunningly powerful, pretty, sweet fantasy, it remind me of the music of Wagner from what I heard...

Do you agree???

Is Zemlinsky closer in sound to Brahms or Wagner to you or I just smoke krak or something(joke), I mean it's grandiose tonal,dramatic remind me of some Wagner work but I cannot says which one, so my question is  does Zemlinsky universe  as Wagnerian element, but I acknowledge Zemlinsky is Zemlinsky, he as is perticular sound.

But I sometime drawn parallels between composer by accident don't know why, I just do it...

What do you think agree or disagree , serious question , serious answer, send me a Mensa dude of death to answer, send me a beautiful mind James william Sydis of GmG , I want to know if people agree or I'M wrong.

To me Zemlinsky is closer in sound to Wagner at least in this work, than anybody else or I could be wrong, permit me to be if I am... 

Whom here love both Zemlinsky and Wagner and can answer this, please someone I need a good smart intelligent answer, how come when I play this work I usually think of Wagner music?

I don't make connection does whit his pupil Schoenberg and the pupil of his pupil Werbern ,Berg  to be clear.

What do you make of this please any musicologist around can answer this one or a specialist of this era, I,m not familiar whit, I'm a renaissance guy don't know mutch about this  late 19century  or early 20 century era per. se.