24 FLAC Discount
This album features works by Arnold Schönberg and Gabriel Fauré, inspired by Maurice Maeterlinck's 1892 play Pelléas et Mélisande. Both composers created their pieces in response to the play’s rich, symbolist narrative and intricate emotional layers.
Schönberg’s Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5 (Tracks 1-11):
Composed in 1902, Schönberg’s symphonic poem captures the dramatic essence of Maeterlinck’s play. It’s a single, continuous movement divided into various sections, reflecting each scene's emotional and narrative depth. Despite initial criticism at its premiere in Vienna, the piece is now appreciated for its complex polyphonic texture and use of leitmotifs to represent characters and themes.
Fauré’s Pelléas et Mélisande, Op. 80 (Tracks 12-15):
Fauré composed this suite from his incidental music for the play's London production in 1898. The suite includes the Prélude, Fileuse, Sicilienne, and La mort de Mélisande. Each movement conveys the mystical and melancholic atmosphere of the play, with Fauré’s characteristic elegance and lyrical simplicity. The suite is considered one of Fauré’s orchestral masterpieces.
Orchestra and Conductor:
The Frankfurt Radio Symphony, under the baton of Paavo Järvi, delivers a nuanced and powerful performance, capturing the emotional intensity and delicate subtleties of both compositions. Järvi, known for his deep musical insights and dynamic conducting style, brings these early 20th-century masterpieces to life with precision and passion.
