大象传媒

Kate Molleson explores Arnold Schoenberg鈥檚 relationship with the city of his birth 鈥� Vienna, and the impact the adverse critical reception to his early works in Vienna had on him

Is there a more controversial, infamous figure in 20th-century music than Arnold Schoenberg? Arguably no other 20th-century composer鈥檚 ideas have been more influential among composers since; however, his music is still neglected and misunderstood by programmers and audiences. Schoenberg was a revolutionary - one of the founders of musical Modernism - but he also recognised the importance of musical tradition. His music defined the times in which he lived, and whether you see Schoenberg as the most important innovator in 20th-century music, or as a heretic who led his followers to an artistic dead end, he was absolutely dedicated to art 鈥� both musical and visual. Over the course of this week, Kate Molleson explores the twists and turns of Schoenberg鈥檚 life, and tracks the composer鈥檚 changing relationship with art through the prism of 5 different visual works, from an image which terrified and obsessed Schoenberg as a child, through the composer鈥檚 own paintings, and one of his practical twelve-tone selection dials, to a portrait of Schoenberg painted while he was in exile in America, by his friend and fellow composer George Gershwin.

In Monday鈥檚 episode, Kate explores Arnold Schoenberg鈥檚 relationship with the city of his birth 鈥� Vienna, and examines the impact that the adverse critical reception to his early works in Vienna had on the young composer. We also explore an image which terrified and obsessed Schoenberg as a young boy in the city - an illustration which accompanied the story 'The Ghost Ship' by Wilhelm Hauff 鈥� and explore the parallels which can be drawn between that painting and Schoenberg鈥檚 experiences in Vienna.

Strauss (arr. Schoenberg)
Roses from the South
Paul Badura-Skoda, piano
Kuchl Quartet

2 Gesange, Op , No 1 鈥淒ank鈥�
Konrad Jarnot, baritone
Urs Liska, piano

4 Lieder, Op 2, No 1 鈥淓rwartung鈥�
Konrad Jarnot, baritone
Urs Liska, piano

Pelleas und Melisande, Op 5 (Langsam)
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor

Verklarte nacht, Op 4
Isabelle Faust, violin
Anne Katharina Schreiber, violin
Antoine Tamestit, viola
Danusha Waskiewicz, viola
Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello
Christian Polt茅ra, cello

Produced by Sam Phillips for 大象传媒 Audio Wales & West