Kronos Quartet - Lyric Suite (2003)

There have been many recordings of Berg's Lyric Suite, written in memory of, or homage to, a brief, concealed love affair the composer had with a married woman. But this new Kronos Quartet single is the first to present it with the reconstruction, by composer and scholar George Perle, of the vocal part--a setting of a poem by Baudelaire--in the final movement, as Berg originally intended and which was only discovered in 1977. The whole work, coming in at about 27 minutes, is rich: the first movement is ardently communicative, lyrical, and occasionally joyful and the finale, now with text, ends in darkest gloom. In between, we have four other movements, one of which, marked "allegro mysterioso" is just that--mysterious and twitchy. Elsewhere there are quotes from a suite by Alexander Zemlinsky and Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, another doomed affair. The playing by the Kronos is expressive and warm throughout, and Dawn Upshaw's singing of the final movement, more outwardly emotional than is usual with this soprano, is heartrending. Berg's music isn't for everyone, but anyone who is interested in Berg at all will need this unique, beautifully played, sung, and recorded disc. -- Robert Levine