Another interesting video from the Spanish Tele-vision (besides the aforementioned
Elijah) is this one: a performance of Schönberg's First Chamber Symphony:
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/los-conciertos-de-la-2/conciertos-2-ciclo-da-camera-fundacion-albeniz/1421505/Upon first reading the description:
"Fundación Albéniz 27 may 2012 Desde el Auditorio Sony de la Fundación Albéniz, concierto a cargo de la Sinfonietta de la Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía bajo la dirección de Peter Rundel.Programa: Sinfonía de cámara nº 1 (A. Schonberg)..."I saw only "Sofia" and assumed that they were a student-group from Bulgaria. But upon closer inspection I realize of course that it refers to Sofia the Queen of the Spaniards and the music-school that now bears Her name.
The main reason why I find the performance interesting is that the players seem somehow to be struggling with the work. There is a certain muddiness is there not, an absence of clear clean flow. And one understands therefore why the composer introduced into his scores those unusual
H and
N signs, hoping to bring out the significant lines.
And a second problem with this work is that certain of its rhythms tempt people to dash along, when they would do better to sit back, slow down, and savour the beauties of its innovatory harmonies.