By MBuja
02-Aug-2007

Second Viennese Romanticism  

Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) remains one of Schoenberg's most quietly emotional pieces. The concept of the work is based on a poem of the same name by oft-censored poet Richard Dehmel, describing a couple's emotional confrontation on love and responsiblity. Originally written for string quartet, it is most often heard in its less-satisfactory chamber ensemble version. This recording, however, goes the other direction and minimalises the string quartet down to a piano trio. The wrenching feelings that the string quartet version can evoke are sublimated to a certain degree - the piano cannot call up the same edginess that the violins can, but as a pocket version, the piano trio transcription is quite admirable.
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