Alfred Schnittke: Historia Von D. Johann Fausten

On this CD:

1. Seid Nuchtern und Wachet (Faust Cantata), for soloists, chorus & orchestra
Composed by Alfred Schnittke
Performed by Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra with Jurgen Freier
Conducted by Gerd Albrecht

Alfred Schnittke: Historia Von D. Johann Fausten, Music, Jurgen Freier, Alfred Schnittke, Gerd Albrecht, Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra, Hanna Schwarz, Cantata, Choral, Classical, Classical Music
Alfred Schnittke: Historia Von D. Johann Fausten
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • a problematic masterpiece
 Alfred Schnittke: Historia Von D. Johann Fausten

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by SchnittkeAll Works by Schnittke | Schnittke, Alfred | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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CantatasCantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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CantatasCantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000003G0S
Release Date: 1996-05-21

Tracks:

  1. Prolog - Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht
  2. Act One: Von Doctor Fausten Geburt Und Studien - Eberhard Lorenz/Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht
  3. Act One: Wie Faustus Den Teufel Beschworen - Eberhard Lorenz
  4. Act One: Eine Disputation Fausti Mit Dem Geist - Arno Raunig/Jurgen Freier
  5. Act One: Weitere Disputation Mit Mephostophiles - Arno Raunig/Jurgen Freier/Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht
  6. Act One: Doctor Fausti Hollische Verschreibung - Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht /Jurgen Freier
  7. Act One: Ein Reim Wider Fausti Verstockung - Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht
  8. Act Two, Part One: Von Der Dienstbarkeit Des Mephostophiles - Eberhard Lorenz/Jurgen Freier
  9. Act Two, Part One: Doctor Faustus Will Sich Verheiraten - Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht /Jurgen Freier/Arno Raunig
  10. Act Two, Part One: Wie Faustus In Die Holl Gefahren - Jurgen Freier/Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht/Eberhard Lorenz
  11. Act Two, Part One: Wie Faustus Ins Gestirn Hinaufgefahren - Jurgen Freier/Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht
  12. Act Two, Part One: Vom Paradeis - Jurgen Freier/Arno Raunig/Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht

Tracks:

  1. Act Two, Part Two: Fausti Weheklag I - Jurgen Freier
  2. Act Two, Part Two: Spottische Scherzreden Der Teuflischen Geister - Arno Raunig/Hanna Schwarz
  3. Act Two, Part Two: Fausti Weheklag II - Jurgen Freier
  4. Act Two, Part Two: Wie Faustus Soll Bekehrt Werden - Eberhard Lorenz/Eberhard Buchner/Jurgen Freier/Arno Raunig
  5. Act Two, Part Two: Doctor Fausti Zweite Verschreibung - Jurgen Freier
  6. Act Two, Part Two: Fausti Weheklag III - Jurgen Freier
  7. Act Two, Part Two: Erscheinung Der Schonen Helena - Jonathan Barreto-Ramos/Christoph Johannes Wendel/Jurgen Fersch/Jurgen Freier
  8. Act Three: Wie Das Vierundzwanzigste Jahr Vorbei - Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht /Eberhard Lorenz/Arno Raunig
  9. Act Three: Rede Fausti Zu Seinen Studenten - Jurgen Freier/Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht/Arno Raunig
  10. Act Three: Gebet Und Falscher Trost Fur Faustum - Eberhard Lorenz/Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht/Arno Raunig/Hanna Schwarz
  11. Act Three: Fausti Grasslicher Tod Und Begrabnis - Hanna Schwarz/Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht/Eberhard Lorenz
  12. Act Three: Lehre Der Ganzen Warhaften Historia - Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht
  13. Act Three: Epilog - Chor Der Hamburgischen Staatsoper/Gerd Albrecht

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars a problematic masterpiece.......2004-11-12

This is the one and only recording of Schnittke's final opera, albeit a truncated version made by the conductor Gerd Albrecht and the opera's producer. About 1 third of the musical material has been excised for this version, due in part to Schnittke's ill health during the making of this project, which prevented him from overseeing the production - in fact he predicted, rightly, that he would never fully complete the work.

The 3rd Act is well known as the Faust Cantata, composed in 1983. Those who are familiar with this latter work will discover a rendition more integrated to the sparer, leaner Acts 1 and 2 which were only written in the 1990s, and whose sound-world is akin to that of the contemporaneous, and controversial, 6th symphony, a sparse, uncompromising and austere work. Unsettling and otherworldy timbres permeate the opera, with such Schnittkian instrumental staples as electric and bass guitars, harpsichord and bells, plus guest instruments such as synthesizer (played by the composer's son Andrej).

This live recording boasts clear sound and great playing from the German orchestra. The soloists also are superb.

This recording, though, must constitute a work-in-progress, until another version of the opera is made, one which rehabilitates the missing music and Schnittke's original structural scheme.

This work is a masterpiece, but a flawed one, and essential repertoire for operas fans.

However, one is left with feelings of sadness and disappointment that Schnittke was unable to finish the work to his satisfaction before his death. What we are left with, though, is sufficient to adjudge the opera one of Schnittke's greatest achievements.


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