Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
Pierre Boulez's Complete Webern Edition appears just over two decades after his last traversal. Well, it's not literally complete, but does have enough early works to set the mature ones in the right context. These days, Webern is no longer seen so much as a new music guru as he is a major composer, pure and simple--his expression as concise as it is intense. Performancewise, there's a quality of musicianship here that few previous recordings have matched; familiarity with the idiom certainly plays its part, but so does Boulez's belief that what we're hearing needs to be presented with conviction. Try the Passacaglia, sensuous music that combines the soundworld of Brahms and Mahler, or the string quartet or orchestra pieces--miniatures in duration, but whole dramas of expression.

Ease of performance doesn't always make this music easy to come to grips with: the song cycles need several listenings to grasp the meaning behind the compression, while the later instrumental and choral works have a luminous austerity that looks back to Bach and beyond to Renaissance masters such as Schütz and Isaac. While much of Webern's music has long been admired, only now is it becoming possible to respond to it through the heart as well as the brain. This set, superbly packaged and comprehensively documented, marks a major step forward, and deserves investigating by anyone keen to appreciate something of the music's quiet, calm essence in an often strident, dislocated century. --Richard Whitehouse









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Disc 1:

1. I. Heftig bewegt
2. II. Sehr langsam
3. III. Sehr lebhaft
4. IV. Sehr langsam
5. V. In zarter Bewegung
6. I. Etwas bewegte Achtel
7. II. Bewegt
8. III. Zart bewegt
9. IV. Langsam. Marcia funebre
10. V. Sehr langsam
11. VI. Zart bewwegt
12. Fuga (Ricercata) a 6 voci
13. No. 1 - No. 2 (No. 1) - No. 3 (No. 1) in A flat major
14. No. 4 - No. 5 (No. 4) - No. 6 (No. 4) in B flat major

Disc 2:

1. I. Bewegt
2. II. Langsam (sostenuto)
3. III. Sehr bewegte Viertel
4. IV. Langsame Viertel
5. V. (Alla breve)
6. I. Leise Düfte: Leise Düfte, Blüten so zart
7. III. O sanftes Glühn der Berge
8. I. Ruhig schreitend
9. II. Variationen
10. I. Zündender Lichtblitz des Lebens
11. II. Kleiner Flügel Ahornsamen
12. III. Tönen die seligen Saiten Apolls
13. I. Schweigt auch die Welt
14. II. Sehr tief verhalten innerst Leben
15. III. Schöpfen aus Brunnen des Himmels
16. IV. Leichteste Bürden der Bäume
17. V. Freundselig ist das Wort
18. VI. Gelockert aus dem Schoße

Disc 3:

1. Du, der ichs nicht sage
2. Du machst mich allein
3. I. Sehr ruhig und zart
4. II. Lebhaft und zart bewegt
5. III. Sehr langsam und äußerst ruhig
6. IV. Fließend, äußerst zart
7. V. Sehr fließend
8. Wiese im Park: Wie wird mir zeitlos
9. II. Die Einsame: An dunkelblauem Himmel
10. III. In der Fremde: In fremdem Lande lag ich
11. Ein Winterabend: Wenn der Schnee ans Fenster fällt
12. I. Die Sonne: Täglich kommt die gelbe Sonne
13. II. Abendland I: Mond, als träte ein Totes
14. III. Abendland II: So leise sind die grünen Wälder
15. IV. Abendland IV: Ihr großen Städt steinern aufgebaut
16. V. Nachts: Die Bläue meiner Augen
17. VI. Gesang einer gefangenen Amsel: Dunkler Odem im grünen Gezweig
18. I. Das Kreuz, das mußt' er tragen
19. II. Morgenlied: Steht auf, ihr lieben Kinderlein
20. III. In Gottes Namen aufstehn
21. IV. Mein Weg geht jetzt vorüber
22. V. Fahr hin, o Seel', zu deinem Gott
23. I. Christus factus est
24. II. Dormi Jesu, mater ridet
25. III. Crux fidelis
26. IV. Asperges me, Domine
27. V. Crucem tuam adoramus, Domine
28. I. Armer Sünder, du
29. II. Liebste Jungfrau, wir sind dein
30. III. Heiland, unsre Missetaten
31. I. Schatzerl klein
32. II. Mein Kind, sieh an
33. III. Ave, Regina coelorum
34. I. Weiß wie Lilien
35. II. Ziehn die Schafe
36. I. Sehr mäßig
37. II. Sehr schwungvoll
38. I. Etwas lebhaft
39. II. Sehr schwungvoll
40. III. Sehr rasch

Disc 4:

1. I. Vorfrühling: Leise tritt auf...
2. II. Nachtgebet der Braut: O mein Geliebter
3. III. Fromm: Der Mond scheint auf mein Lager
4. I. Tief von fern: Aus des Abends weißen Wogen
5. II. Aufblick: Über unsre Liebe hängt eine tiefe Trauerweide
6. III. Blumengruß: Der Strauß, den ich gepflücket
7. IV. Bild der Liebe: Von Wald umgeben
8. V. Sommerabend: Du Sommerabend! Heilig, goldnes Licht!
9. VI. Heiter: Mein Herz ist wie ein See so weit
10. VII. Der Tod: Ach, es ist so dunkel in des Todes Kammer
11. VIII. Heimgang in der Frühe: In der Dämmerung
12. I. Gefunden: Nun wir uns lieben, rauscht mein stolzes Glück
13. II. Gebet: Ertrage du's, laß schneiden dir den Schmerz
14. III. Freunde: Schmerze und Freuden reift jede Stunde
15. I. Ideale Landschaft: Du hattest einen Glanz auf deiner Stirn
16. II. Am Ufer: Die Welt verstummt, dein Blut erklingt
17. III. Himmelfahrt: Schwebst du nieder aus den Weiten
18. IV. Nächtliche Scheu: Zaghaft vom Gewölk ins Land
19. V. Helle Nacht: Weich küßt die Zweige der weiße Mond
20. I. Dies ist ein lied
21. II. Im windes-weben
22. III. An baches ranft
23. IV. Im morgen-taun
24. V. Kahl reckt der baum
25. I. Eingang: Welt der gestalten lang lebewohl!
26. II. Noch zwingt mich treue über dir zu wachen
27. III. Ja heil und dank dir
28. IV. So ich traurig bin
29. V. Ihr tratet zu dem herde
30. I. Erwachen aus dem tiefsten traumes-schooße
31. II. Kunfttag I: Dem bist du kind, dem freund
32. III. Trauer I: So wart bis ich dies dir noch künde
33. IV. Das lockere saatgefilde lechzet krank
34. I. Der Tag ist vergangen
35. II. Die geheimnisvolle Flöte: An einem Abend, da die Blumen dufteten
36. III. Schien mir's, als ich sah die Sonne
37. IV. Gleich und gleich: Ein Blumenglöckchen
38. I. Das dunkle Herz, das in sich lauscht
39. II. Es stürzt aus Höhen Frische
40. III. Herr Jesus mein
41. I. Wie bin ich froh!
42. II. Des Herzens Purpurvogel fliegt durch Nacht
43. III. Sterne, ihr silbernen Bienen der Nacht

Disc 5:

1. I. Heftig bewegt
2. II. Sehr langsam
3. III. Sehr bewegt
4. IV. Sehr langsam
5. V. In zarter Bewegung
6. I. Mäßig
7. II. Leicht bewegt
8. III. Ziemlich fließend
9. IV. Sehr langsam
10. V. Äußerst langsam
11. VI. Fließend
12. I. Bewegt
13. II. Langsam
14. III. Nicht zu langsam
15. I. Sehr langsam
16. II. Sehr getragen und ausdrucksvoll
17. I. Mäßig
18. II. Gemächlich - Bewegt
19. III. Sehr fließend

Disc 6:

1. I. Langsam
2. II. Langsam
3. I. Sehr langsam
4. II. Rasch
5. III. Sehr langsam
6. IV. Bewegt
7. I. Mäßige
8. II. Sehr bewegt
9. III. Äußerst ruhig
10. I. Sehr mäßig
11. II. Sehr schnell
12. III. Ruhig fließend

Rating: - a superb achievement
I share the very positive sentiments of the other reviewers. I have heard both of the Boulez anthologies and prefer this one, although the other is excellent too. Compared to the classic Karajan Webern single CD with the same orchestra, which I also admire, the newer Boulez performances of the same pieces are marked by equally fantastic orchestral playing, and even better recording quality, which makes the extreme dynamics of Webern's writing more effective. If there is a better Opus 1 by any composer than Webern's Passacaglia, I would like to hear it. The Schubert and especially Bach arrangements on the first CD are first class. In my view, all the performances are successful - with special kudos to the soprano Christiane Oelze and the Emerson String Quartet. The documentation, in substance and presentation, is excellent too.

Personally, I find with Webern's work something in common with that of Bach, a kind of absolute purity of expression, or however you may wish to describe it (which is not implying that Webern is every bit as great as Bach though). They are totally concentrated in expression and require the same level of involvement not only from the performer but also to a large measure the listener too. I think these aleatory, uncompromising pieces will never be popular with the mainstream classical music loving audience (my local symphony orchestra has not performed a mature Webern work in recent memory, if ever), but for those willing to make the time and effort to "do the homework" and listen to the pieces again and again, they will reap the benefits, as with Bach, of great spiritual experience. Personally, I find the Webern cantatas especially beautiful.

Just a matter of personal taste, for those who are "dipping their toes" into these difficult pieces, I find the vocal works a little more approachable at first than the purely instrumental ones. Webern's pointillistic, ascerbic writing can initially give a very cold, forbidding, austere impression - so much so that one is tempted to stop listening. The vocal works offer, for lack of a better term, a warmer, more "lyrical" sound. Das Augenlicht for mixed chorus and orchestra on CD 2 is a good example. Yet there is underlying emotional and spiritual depth, somehow enhanced by the absence of sentimentality. One could make a similar observation about Bach's The Art of Fugue, or has been noted elsewhere, Flemish Renaissance music. The latter is also marked by severe economy of expression, and Webern was thoroughly familiar with it.

The price is very fair for such an outstanding album. I do not expect another one like it to be made for a very long time.

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Rating: - Poesia do silêncio
Conheci a obra de Anton Webern ao ler a Poesia Concreta, especificamente a obra e a série de poemas "poetamenos" de Augusto de Campos. Este autor, inclusive, escreveu vários artigos sobre a obra de Webern, destacando a regência de Boulez, a qual está registrada neste boxset.

Mas ainda estou ouvindo esta preciosidade - digerindo-a aos poucos. Até onde ouvi, veio-me como uma bela aquisição.

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Rating: - Thank You Boulez
If you are a fan of the "New Vienna School" (Schoenberg, Berg, Webern) or 20th century "classical" or "serious" music, this disk set is very rewarding. Beautifully recorded and packaged, and with equally good liner notes, it is a treat to strap on the headphones and listen.

I debated between buying this or Boulez's older Webern set and went with this one. There is much more music on this set because pieces without opus numbers are included. They lend a lot of insight into his "published" works. I also went with this set because it is a modern digital recording, the previous set being from the early 70's. I will often side with a classic recording when needed-performance over sound. Here, I'm happy to report, the listener gets both. Every detail is captured.

Thank you very much Pierre Boulez and DG for making this project happen. Please keep the Schoenberg and Berg disks coming. And thank you Anton Webern for continually opening my ears.

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Rating: - 5 Star music. Some very good performances, some are aimless.
Webern's music demonstrates a level of craft, in which few composers ever contend. The more that I listen to the works of Webern, the more I hear that each note must be just as it is. There is nothing wasted in this music. The expression is never vague, always intense. I do admire the works of many modern composers, but few are so discerning and meticulous in their works. Webern's craft is equal with the greats of music history; Guillarme de Machaut, Carlo Gesualdo, Claudio Monteverdi, J.S. Bach, Franz Joseph Haydn, Ludwig Beethoven. He is a towering figure. The music that is played here is first rate. However, I have not yet heard performances of many of his works that bring out everything that Webern's music has to offer. For example, the Op. 27 Piano Variations are seldom done justice. All of the movements are given `circa' tempo indications, but many take the movements much slower or faster than indicated. Unfortunately, on this recording the fast movement is slow and the slow movements fast. Presumably the slower tempo in the fast movement would allow for more accurate interpretation of the frequent changes between piano and forte. The problem is that the F's typically don't fade away fast enough and drown out the P's. The other option is to make the P's a little bit more like mezzo forte's. The recording that Pollini did of the work on Deutsche Gramaphon with the Boulez 2nd Sonata manages to reconcile the dynamics with the tempo. However, what I have not heard with the work is the full impact of the affect in the work. What the Pollini performance fails in is the coldness of the interpretation. For those interested, I believe that DG is currently putting out the Pollini performance with Stravinsky's Petruska and a Prokofiev sonata at a fairly low price. This recording brings together several performances of more `high profile' ensembles than the older recording on Sony, which mostly featured performances of musicians from Juilliard. The performances are often more colorful, but I can't say that I always think they surpass their predecessors. The interpretations of the works are a little bit `hit and miss.' The ensembles that Boulez conducts tend to bring out the same sorts of things in the works that the previous ensembles did with the last `complete Webern.' This is good in places; I appreciate the more resonant quality that the recent recording equipment affords, and Boulez conducts a comparable performance of the orchestral works such as the `Symphonie.' The recording of the `Konzert' for nine instruments is good. The performances of the early expressionist works, such as the `Five Orchestral Pieces,' are powerful. Boulez is less afraid to see the human in Webern and let the shocked silences speak. Furthermore, the peaks are less harsh, allowing more of the subtle affects to become visible. Some of the performances just lack a certain power of expression that the previous `complete webern' had; a viscerally that the strength of the `Webern - Vogue' afforded them. The musicians that played the previous complete were looking at Webern as a giant, they are young and virile performances. These performances sometimes view Webern as a curiosity, a historical anachronism, the way that your grandfather will tell you a strange story, of which he himself doesn't understand the point, but he relates as a bit of curio. All in all, I wouldn't say that this set of recordings is the final word on the majority of Webern's works. Many of the performances in the previous set are just as good, but neither do those constantly surpass these performances. Both have their faults. The previous set tended to be cold and more aggressive than was necessary in places. The new set tends to wander at times, as if the performer does not understand the point. It's always difficult to sum up a complete works set for a prospective buyer. Just as in `complete works' of Bach sets that I own, the performances are not always amazing. However, the strength of the compositions often overcomes my desire for a strong performance, and I'm just glad that I have a recording of someone performing that Bach work that I want to hear. Here, similarly, the performances aren't always the best, but there is a wider range of Webern's ouvre represented and many of the performances are quite good. I suppose my counsel would be that one should consider the price of this set vs. the older sony set. The sony set is less complete, but it does include all of the really monolithic, profound Webern works. You also get a view of the younger, romantic Webern in this new set, in addition to better sound quality. Certain performances are better in each set, and so you'll get some good and some bad in either choice. For those that already have a strong taste for Webern's music, try this set. For those who are looking for a starting place, you might try the sony set. The highlights of this set are the Boulez orchestral performances. He has honed his vision for Webern since the last set and they are `worth the price.' For those further exploring Webern, those performances should be heard.

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Rating: - not much more to be said
... i could be extremely nit-picky, and complain about the solo piano pieces, and their performer's occasional humming, and the baffling ordering of the quartet disc, and the discrepencies in the translations of the booklet, and how the english left out any explanation of sator arepo etc..., yet the french seems to, and all the little tiny errors, in the booklet... but... these are all moot points when any of the performances are heard. it brings to light all facets of the composer, so he no longer seems ascetic and overly intellectual, just check out the highly romantic string quartet op. 28, and variations for orchestra, yes even the solo piano pieces with the humming. all in all, a very enlightening experience.