How is the outward life of Alban Berg, a doyen of Viennese respectability, to be reconciled with the composers inner life that fueled his nightmarish operas? This vintage program explores the dark world beneath Bergs polished public image, revealing the facts of his dual existence. Soprano Kristine Ciesinkiwho sings selections from Wozzeck, Lulu, and Seven Early Songstravels to Vienna, Prague, Germany, and the U.S. to track down crucial archival documents and to speak with people who knew the composer, highlighting the way in which Bergs passionate attachments and his interest in astrology find encoded expression in his music. Performances are by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Elgar Howarth, and the McCapra String Quartet. Baritone Norman Bailey takes the parts of the animal tamer and Dr. Schön in Lulu. (50 minutes)
|