Passacaglia Op. 1 - Six Pieces For Large Orchestra Op. 6 - Five Pieces For Orchestra Op. 10 - Symphony Op. 21 - Concerto Op. 24 - Variations For Orchestra Op. 30 - Orchestration Of Bach's "Ricercar"

This 1957 Philips release, catalog number A 01337 L, represents a milestone in the dissemination of the Second Viennese School. It gathers the complete orchestral works of Anton Webern under the direction of Robert Craft, a close collaborator of Igor Stravinsky. The collection emerged during a period when the serialist movement was gaining significant academic and critical momentum in Europe and the United States, positioning Webern’s highly condensed, aphoristic compositions at the heart of the modern classical canon.

The recording is notable for its rigorous adherence to the structural integrity and pointillistic texture characteristic of Webern's scores. By documenting pieces ranging from the early, Brahms-influenced Passacaglia Op. 1 to the mature, rigorous serialism of the Variations for Orchestra Op. 30, the set provided listeners with a comprehensive overview of Webern’s stylistic evolution. Upon its release, it was lauded by critics and composers alike for providing a definitive, precise realization of works that had previously been considered nearly impossible to perform with sufficient clarity.