Past Images of the Month - December 2013

Two choral masterpieces: Gurrelieder and The Bells, first performed in 1913.
 

Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): Gurre-Lieder

Text by Robert Franz Arnold after the Danish of Jens Peter Jacobsen (1847-1885).
Composed 1900-1901; orchestrated 1901-1903, 1910-1911.
First performance: Grosses Musikvereinsaal, Vienna, 23 February 1913, conducted by Franz Schreker.

(Please click the thumbnails below to view larger image)

Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943): Kolokola (The Bells), Op.35

Text by Konstantin Bal'mont after the English of Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849).
Composed 1913.
First performance: St Petersburg (Siloti Concert), 13 December 1913, conducted by the composer.