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Chamber Symphony No. 2 op. 38. 2. Con fuoco
Catalog slip
| Title | Chamber Symphony No. 2 op. 38. 2. Con fuoco |
| Playing time | 00:04:25 |
| Authors |
Schönberg, Arnold [Komponist/in]
[GND]
|
| Contributors |
Stiedry, Fritz [Dirigent]
[GND
]
G. Schirmer Inc. [Produzent] The New Friends Of Music Orchestra [Orchester] |
| Date |
1940.12.15 [Aufnahmedatum] |
| Place |
New York, Wohnung / residence Fritz Stiedry [Ortsbezug]
New York City [Aufnahmeort] |
| Keywords | Musik ; E-Musik ; Gesellschaft ; Instrumentalmusik - Symphonie ; Besetzung - Orchester ; Besetzung - Kammerorchester ; Radio ; Unveröffentlichte Aufnahme |
|
20. Jahrhundert - 40er Jahre
|
|
| Type | audio |
| Format |
SCS [Schallplatte, Schellack] |
| Language |
Englisch |
| Link |
Chamber Symphony No. op. 28 on the website of the Arnold Schönberg Center |
| Signature | Österreichische Mediathek, e11-00391_b01_k02 |
| Media type | Mp3-Audiodatei |
Arnold Schönberg and Fritz Stiedry, Arnold Schönberg Center, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT
Information
Content
In a letter to Fritz Stiedry, who had conducted the premiere of Schönberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 2 op. 38 on December 15, 1940 in New York, the composer provides an insight into the musical performance: “More than anything else, let me say that the performance of the Second Chamber Symphony really sounded very clear and precise, and it has left a great impression on everybody I have spoken to – several people have listened to it at my home – and they were filled with the greatest respect. As regards the interpretation, it was convincing overall, although it suffered considerably from the tempi being too slow throughout, sometimes far too slow. For example in bar 219, animando (and all the parallel passages) means ‘animated’. I understand perfectly that many things are done differently at a premiere, in the interests of better presentation. And there is much that does not succeed as well as expected. That is why I am able to say this, because I know only too well how much I myself have failed in my own works. But I think it is important for subsequent performances that I set everything right. […] I have played the records several times now and the more I play them, the less I like them. It is actually an atrocious sound. No orchestra, no conductor, has produced a sound that is even nearly as atrocious as the sound created by the best records. Even the radio broadcast itself had a much finer sound. […] I consider the noise from the strings so irksome, the wind instruments are not vivid. – I am convinced that the records do not provide a correct reproduction of the performance. The radio broadcast sounded considerably better as well. Nevertheless – and that is the curious thing – I am still happy to have received them. After all, who knows when I would have heard the piece for the first time, if it were not for the radio and records.” (Letter dated January 9, 1941) (Text: Arnold Schönberg Center)
