Alban Berg: Violin Concerto "To the Memory of an Angel" (1935) / Wolfgang Rihm: "Time Chant" Music f...

Pros: Mutter, Berg

Cons: the Rihm music annoys me

The Bottom Line: with an unworthy pairing -- 5 stars for playing and recording, 4.5 for Berg's music, less than 2 for Rihm's doodles

Review: Although it must be the most lyrical major serialist composition and has many lush (and tonal) harmonies, The 1935 violin concerto of Alban Berg (1885-1935) can still frighten audiences -- and for better reasons, violinists. Knowing that there are layers ...