The tragic death of the 18 years old Manon Gropius, daughter of Alma Mahler-Werfel, affected Berg deeply. She was to him like his own daughter. The violinist Louis Krasner commissioned him to write the piece already in February 1935, but it was only after this event that the concept of the work reached its final version. Berg wrote the concerto in a very short period for his standards (April–July in 1935, instrumentation was finished in August 1935). The Corinthian song, Waltz as the musical memory of the 19th century and finally the Bach-style choral “Es ist genug” are contributing to the work filled with pain and sentiment. From departing of beloved person, from the old world which was heading towards a disaster. Not by coincidence Berg wrote to a friend from childhood in September 1935: “Wir bleiben halt unverbesserliche Romantiker!” and adds the following: “Auch mein neues Violinkonzert bestätigt es wieder”. The concerto was performed for the first time at the 1936 ISCM festival in Barcelona. The soloist was Louis Krasner and it was conducted by Hermann Scherchen who was substituting for Anton Webern. Anton Webern was unable to conduct, being affected by a sudden death of a close friend in the same year (Berg died on December 24, 1935 of the consequences from bite of an unknown insect in the summer). However, only a few weeks later they made a phenomenal recording together in London. After the last chord Scherchen took the score and carried it from the stage holding it high above his head like a mass book. He carried with him the legacy of his generation – Berg’s own Requiem.
Recording: Bratislava, Radio and Television Slovakia, Studio 1, January & March 2016
Recording producer: Matej Háasz
Sound engineer: Rostislav Pavlík
Executive producers: Milan Pala & Marian Lejava
Production and Distributin: PAVLÍK RECORDS
Project concept: Milan Pala
Notes and booklet editing: Milan Pala & Marian Lejava
Translations: Peter Fančovič
Photos: Julián Veverica
Design and Artworks: Andrea Labudová
Artwork supervision: Marian Lejava
Publishers: PWM Edition, Max Eschig, Musikproduktion Höflich München (Szymanowski) Universal Edition, Breitkopf & Härtel (Berg)
www.milanpala.com
www.marianlejava.com
www.sosr.sk
www.atelierbursik.cz
Supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council
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