Fünfzehn Gedichte Aus «Das Buch Der Hängenden Gärten» Von Stefan George Op. 15 / Fünf Lieder Nach Gedichten Von Stefan George Op. 4

This recording features Arnold Schoenberg’s Op. 15, a landmark cycle composed between 1908 and 1909 that represents a pivotal moment in twentieth-century music. By setting fifteen poems from Stefan George's 'The Book of the Hanging Gardens,' Schoenberg effectively abandoned traditional tonality, moving into the period of free atonality. The work is noted for its delicate, atmospheric textures and its departure from the dense harmonic structures of his earlier Romantic style, marking a revolutionary shift in how vocal music interacted with the poetic text.

The Bärenreiter-Musicaphon release, featuring performances by soprano Carla Henius and pianist Aribert Reimann, serves as a high-fidelity document of this complex expressionist repertoire. Henius, a specialist in contemporary vocal music, was widely praised for her technical precision and intellectual rigor in navigating Schoenberg’s challenging leaps and rhythmic subtleties. This pressing was part of a broader commitment by the label to preserve seminal works of the Second Viennese School, providing scholars and listeners with a definitive interpretation that emphasizes the structural integrity of the scores.