Search - Dietrich Henschel, Luciano Berio, Christoph Eschenbach :: Berio: Rendering; Stanze

Luciano Berio gathers fragments of Schubert's '10th symphony

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/14/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Christoph Eschenbach guides this performance of Luciano Berio's intelligent and endlessly entertaining 'Rendering', his reconstitution of what Franz Schubert left as fragmental thoughts of what would have been his Symphony No. 10, with just the right amount of delicacy, lyricism and humor that makes this work sing. He manages to allow Berio's orchestration of the real Schubert lines together with the celeste introductions of Berio's links feel seamless and eloquent. For those who have not had the pleasure of hearing this work before, there are moments of magic that recall the finest of Schubert married to the sensibility that made Berio's productive output so unique. It is work that is slowly becoming a staple in the orchestral repertoire around the world. At a recent concert Gustavo Dudamel lead his Los Angeles Philharmonic in a enlightening and revelatory performance of 'Rendering', electing to place in at the beginning of a concert that included Berio's very fine 'Folk Songs' (with Dawn Upshaw as soloist) and ended with Schubert's 'Unfinished Symphony No. 8' - programming that heightened the importance of Berio's 'Rendering'. Though the accompanying work on this CD s Berio's 'Stanze', a work that needs more exposure than a single casual listening to appreciate, the highlight of this release is Eschenbach's superb performance of the 'Rendering'. Grady Harp, November 09



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