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| Kronos Quartet: At The Grave of Richard Wagner | 
 enlarge | Artists: Kronos Quartet, Alban Berg, Franz Liszt, Anton Webern, Joan Jeanrenaud, Marcella Decray, Aki Takahashi, Hank Dutt, David Harrington, John Sherba
Label: Nonesuch
Category: Music
List Price: $10.98
Buy New: $8.35
You Save: $2.63 (24%)
Buy New/Used from $6.20
Avg. Customer Rating:  (4 reviews)
Sales Rank: 158626
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 075597931822
EAN: 0075597931822
ASIN: B000005J25
Release Date: September 28, 1993
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | At the Grave of Richard Wagner | | • | String Quartet, Op. 3: I | | • | String Quartet, Op. 3: II | | • | Five Pieces, Op. 5: I | | • | Five Pieces, Op. 5: II | | • | Five Pieces, Op. 5: III | | • | Five Pieces, Op. 5: IV | | • | Five Pieces, Op. 5: V |
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| Customer Reviews:
Quite excellent all around January 31, 2002
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
This is a truly fascinating CD. Perhaps it doesn't have the greatest balance in terms of pieces, but that certainly shouldn't put you off at all.The opening piece (the title track if you want to be "pop") is a truly sublime Lisztian work - you'll find none of the fire and virtuosity that you may have come to expect from him. Seems rather ironic, that a piece written by one of the most "aggressive" composers for another one of the most "aggressive" composers is really quite sublime - no Wagner tubas either. However, that piece provides about 1/15 of the music presented on this album. The other two pieces, by Berg and Webern respectively, are very good ways to "get into" these two composers. We like to associated them with dry, cold, inaccessible serialism, an exceptionally unfair label on both the composers and the style. We, of course, forget that Berg actually had a very post-Romantic sound to his music (he found the "right" set of 12-tones, perhaps?). These pieces, however, are truly quite accessible, while still providing a fair representation about what these composers are all about. Personally, I prefer the Webern - I'm quite drawn to how he compresses everything into the bare essentials, and yet maintains every ounce of expressivity. Naturally, Kronos Quartet plays these pieces brilliantly. And equally naturally, the recording quality is top notch. This is definitely worth a ... investment.
Fantastic ! December 18, 2000
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is possibly this most beautifull CD ever recorded by the Kronos Quartet. Who said that Berg or Webern were writing obscur or difficult music ? Actually i did, but certainly not when listening to this fabulous breathtaking, harmonius and moving interpretation.
 Less Liszt August 16, 2000
6 out of 11 found this review helpful
Don't be misled by the title selection into presuming that this CD contains a collection of romantic compositions by Liszt or others who composed in a similar vein. At the Grave of Richard Wagner comprises two minutes and forty-seven seconds of the thirty-two minutes and twenty-eight seconds on the recording. The balance consists of Alban Berg's String Quartet, Op. 3 (19:03) and Anton Webern's Five Pieces, Op. 5 (10:38). Therfore, if twelve-tone compositions are not something for which you have a fondness, unless you have a burning desire to acquire the Liszt composition, you might want to pass on this recording.However, the Kronos Quartet is an excellent ensemble; therefore, if you appreciate the works of Berg and Webern, this recording is a worthy acquisition.
Excellent overall, First piece sublime December 28, 1999
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is an excellent rendition of these three pieces done by Kronos. "At the Grave of Richard Wagner" is fantastic, and so moving and well done you find you haven't breathed at all while listening to it. Those unfamiliar with Berg and Webern will need a few listenings of those pieces to fully understand and appreciate them, because they are a stark contrast to the beauty of the Liszt piece. Excellent recording, highly recommended. Very well performed; the players completely understand the nuances of the music.
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