Igor Stravinsky’s longtime assistant conductor Robert Craft would have celebrated his 100th birthday on October 20, 2023
Craft’s complete American Columbia discography on 44 CDs
68 works released on CD for the first time
Released in collaboration with the Robert Craft | Igor Stravinsky Foundation
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Pre-order: https://sonyclassical.lnk.to/craft-columbia
Robert Craft’s epoch-making recordings of Schoenberg, Webern and late-period Stravinsky were instrumental in making these milestones of 20th-century music widely accessible in the 1950s and 60s. Gramophone called Craft “a tireless worker for the music of our time.” Sony Classical has now collected the conductor’s entire American Columbia discography and is issuing it in a remastered 44-disc box set. Many of these pioneering recordings have never been released on CD before.
Born in Kingston, New York in 1923, Craft began his career in New York City after graduating from the Juilliard School in 1947. In that year he wrote to Stravinsky in California, asking to borrow an unpublished piece. This led to an intensive correspondence and eventually to a meeting when the composer was in New York. Quickly realizing that the young man knew as much about literature as music, Stravinsky invited him to join him and his wife in their West Hollywood home as his secretary and musical factotum. For the next two decades, Craft shared conducting duties with Stravinsky, eventually taking on the lion’s share of the responsibility in more than 150 concerts as well as in Columbia’s monumental project to record the composer’s complete works.
But what had already made Robert Craft’s reputation by then was his advocacy of the spare, crystalline music of Anton Webern. Between 1954 and 1956 he undertook the first-ever recording of Webern’s complete works with Hollywood session players and prominent locally based soloists including soprano Marni Nixon and pianist Leonard Stein. When the 4-LP set was released in 1957, a review in High Fidelity, the leading US record journal of the period, called it “an epical undertaking, and one that has been accomplished with epical success. Robert Craft and his associates in Los Angeles spent two years recording the music of Anton Webern. They perform it magnificently, they have had the utmost painstaking collaboration from Columbia, and the whole will remain for a very long time as one of the major monuments of modern discography.” A decade later, three High Fidelity reviewers named Craft’s complete Webern one of the ten great treasures in the history of mono recording.
Robert Craft also did yeoman service for Arnold Schoenberg, between 1953 and 1966 directing the première recordings of most of the composer’s music. When High Fidelity surveyed the Schoenberg catalogue as late as 1974, fully a quarter of the listings were conducted by Craft. The magazine’s reviewer called this “an extraordinary and praiseworthy effort to make broadly available one of the modern era’s most significant musical legacies”, adding that an even more telling statistic was that 18 substantial works by Schoenberg could still be obtained only in Craft’s recordings.
He also recorded for Columbia many larger and smaller works by Alban Berg, the third member of the so-called Second Viennese School. Contemporary music authority Eric Salzman wrote in the New York Times that Craft’s recording of the Chamber Concerto is “beautifully articulated and phrased … The excellent violinist and pianist are superb soloists and fit into a conception that is integrated and perhaps surprising for its variousness, its lightness and wit as well as its tension and powerful play of musical forces. Equally exceptional are the performances of the ‘concert aria’ Der Wein and Seven Early Songs … enhanced by the exquisite singing and superb musicianship of [Bethany] Beardslee.”
Although Craft, who died in 2015, is mainly remembered as a champion of contemporary repertoire – his recordings of works by the avant-gardists Varèse, Boulez and Stockhausen are also to be found in Sony Classical’s new box – he was deeply interested in early music as well. His fascination with Carlo Gesualdo led to Columbia recordings in 1959 and 1962 (among the hand-picked singers was Marilyn Horne) which brought that Renaissance composer’s audaciously chromatic music (and lurid biography) to popular attention. Sony’s comprehensive Robert Craft edition also contains his other recordings of early music – Monteverdi madrigals and the complete 1610 Vespers, motets by Schütz, Bach cantatas – as well as Mozart’s “Gran Partita” and works by Debussy and Hindemith.
SET CONTENTS
DISC 1:
Schoenberg: Suite, Op. 29
Schoenberg: Herzgewächse, Op. 20
Schoenberg: Canon for Thomas Mann on his 70th birthday
Schoenberg: Drei Satiren, Op. 28: III. Der neue Klassizismus “Nicht mehr romantisch bleib ich”
Schoenberg: Zwei Klavierstücke, Op. 33a & b
Schoenberg: 3 Songs, Op. 48
DISC 2:
Webern: Passacaglia for Large Orchestra, Op. 1
Webern: Entflieht auf leichten Kähnen, Op. 2
Webern: Fünf Lieder aus “Der Siebente Ring”, Op. 3
Webern: Fünf Lieder zu Gedichten von Stefan George, Op. 4
Webern: Fünf Sätze für Streichquartett, Op. 5
Webern: 6 Pieces for Large Orchestra, Op. 6
Webern: 4 Pieces for Violin & Piano, Op. 7
Webern: 2 Lieder after Poems by Rainer Maria Rilke, Op. 8
DISC 3:
Webern: 6 Bagatelles for String Quartet, Op. 9
Webern: 5 Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 10
Webern: 3 Pieces for Cello and Piano, Op. 11
Webern: 4 Lieder für Gesang und Klavier, Op. 12
Webern: 4 Lieder, Op. 13
Webern: 6 Lieder nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl, Op. 14
Webern: 5 Geistliche Lieder, Op. 15
Webern: 5 Canons on Latin Texts, Op. 16
Webern: 3 Traditional Rhymes, Op. 17
Webern: 3 Lieder für Sopran, Klarinette und Gitarre, Op.18
Webern: 2 Lieder, Op. 19
Webern: String Trio, Op. 20
DISC 4:
Webern: Symphony, Op. 21
Webern: Quartet, Op. 22
Webern: 3 Gesänge, Op. 23
Webern: Concerto for 9 Instruments, Op. 24
Webern: 3 Lieder nach Gedichten von Hildegard Jone, Op. 25
Webern: Das Augenlicht, Op. 26
Webern: Variations for Piano, Op. 27
DISC 5:
Webern: String Quartet, Op. 28
Webern: Cantata No. 1, Op. 29
Webern: Variations for Orchestra, Op. 30
Webern: Cantata No. 2, Op. 31
Webern: Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Ricercar a 6 (Fuga II)
Webern: Quintet for Strings and Piano (1907)
DISC 6:
Gesualdo: Response for 6 Voices: Aestimatus Sum
Gesualdo: Madrigals for 5 Voices
Gesualdo: Response for 6 Voices: Tristis est anima mea
Gesualdo-Stravinsky: Illumina nos – Motet for 7 Voices
DISC 7:
Schoenberg: Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31
Schoenberg: Vier Stücke für gemischten Chor, Op. 27 (1925)
Schoenberg: Drei Satiren, Op. 28: I. Am Scheideweg “Tonal oder atonal?”
Schoenberg: Serenade for Baritone and Septet, Op. 24 (1920-1923)
DISC 8:
Boulez: Le Marteau sans maître
Stockhausen: “Zeitmasse” for Flute, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet and Basson, Op. 5 (1956)
DISC 9:
Gesualdo: T’amo mia vita, la mia cara vita
Gesualdo: Or, che in gioia credea/O sempre crudo amore
Gesualdo: Chiaro risplender suole
Gesualdo: Gagliarda seconda from Gagliarde a 4
Gesualdo: In te, Domine, speravi
Gesualdo: O vos omnes
Gesualdo: Come vivi cor mio
Gesualdo: Gailliarda ottava from Gagliarde a 4
Gesualdo: Felicissimo sonno
Gesualdo: Io pur respiro in cosí gran dolore
Gesualdo: Già piansi nel dolore
Gesualdo: Resta di darmi noia
Gesualdo: Deh, coprite il bel seno
Gesualdo: Sinfonia a quattro antica from Gagliarde, a 4
Gesualdo: Cor mio, deh, non piangete – Dunque non m’offendete
Gesualdo: Gailliarda nona from Gagliarde a 4
Gesualdo: Mercè grido piangendo
Gesualdo: All’ombra degl’allori
Gesualdo: Gailliarda quarta from Gagliarde a 4
Gesualdo: Languisce al fin chi da la vita parte
Gesualdo: Non t’amo, o voce ingrata
Gesualdo: O crux benedicta
DISC 10:
Schütz: Attendite, popule meus
Schütz: Du Schalksknecht
Schütz: Es ging ein Sämann aus zu säen seinen Samen
Schütz: Anima mea liquefacta est
Schütz: Adjuro vos filiae Jerusalem
Schütz: Deus misereatur nostri
Schütz: Inter brachia salvatoris mei
Schütz: Fili Mi Absalon – Explicit Content Edited
DISC 11:
Berg: 5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg, Op. 4
Webern: Five Movements for String Orchestra
Schoenberg: 5 Orchesterstücke, Op. 16 (1909)
DISC 12:
Varese: Ionisation
Varese: Density 21. 5
Varese: Intégrales
Varese: Octandre
Varese: Hyperprisms
Varese: Poème électronique
DISC 13:
Bach, J.S.: “Laß Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl”, Cantata BWV 198 (“Trauerode”)
Bach, J.S.: “Aus der Tiefe rufe ich, Herr, zu dir”, Cantata BWV 131
DISC 14:
Berg: Drei Orchesterstücke Op. 6 (1914/15)
Schoenberg: Begleitmusik zu einer Lichtspielscene, Op. 34
Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6 (1928)
DISC 15:
Berg: Four Symphonic Excerpts From “Lulu”
Berg: Der Wein
Berg: Three Pieces from the “Lyric Suite”
DISC 16:
Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano, Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-1925)
Berg: 7 frühe Lieder
DISC 17:
Gesualdo: Volgi, mia luce – Madrigal for 6 Voices
Gesualdo: O dolorosa gioia – Madridgal for 5 Voices
Gesualdo: Ardo per te, mio bene – Madrigal for 5 Voices
Gesualdo: Gagliarda
Gesualdo: Quando ridente e bella – Madrigal for 5 Voices
Gesualdo: Dolcissima mia vita – Madrigal for 5 Voices
Gesualdo: Recessit pastor noster – Motet for 6 Voices
Gesualdo: Che fai meco – Madrigal for 5 Voices
Gesualdo: Questa crudele e pia – Madrigal for 5 Voices
Gesualdo: Ardita zanzaretta – Madrigal for 5 Voices
Gesualdo: Aestimatus sum – Madrigal for 6 Voices
Gesualdo: Canzon francese del principe
Stravinsky: Monumentum pro Gesualdo di Venosa ad CD Annum
DISC 18:
Mozart: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 24 in C Minor, K.491
Schoenberg: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 42
DISC 19:
Mozart, W.A.: Serenade in B-Flat Major, K. 361 (370a) “Gran Partita”
Schubert (arr. Webernn): 6 German Dances, D. 820 (Arranged by Anton Webern for Orchestra)
DISC 20:
Varese: Deserts
Varese: Offrandes – Chanson De La-Haut (Song from On High)
Varese: Offrandes – La Croix Du Sud (The Southern Cross)
Varese: Arcana
DISC 21:
Schoenberg: Erwartung, Op. 17 (Monodrama in One Act)
Schoenberg: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 36
DISC 22:
Schoenberg: Pierrot lunaire, Op. 21
Schoenberg: Die Glückliche Hand, Op. 18 (Opera in Four Scenes)
Schoenberg: A Survivor from Warsaw, Op. 46
DISC 23:
Schoenberg: Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5
DISC 24:
Schoenberg: Prelude (to Genesis), Op. 44 (1945)
Schoenberg: Drei Stücke für Kammerensemble (1910)
Schoenberg: Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31
Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4
DISC 25:
Debussy: 3 Chanson de Bilitis, L. 96
Hindemith: Hérodiade
DISC 26:
Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 16 (Original Version)
Schoenberg: 4 Lieder, Op. 22
Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No.2
Schoenberg: Kol Nidre, Op. 39
DISC 27:
Schoenberg: Herzgewächse, Op. 20
Schoenberg: Dreimal Tausend Jahre, Op. 50a
Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 9
Bach, J.S. (arr. Schoenberg): Prelude & Fugue in E-Flat Major, BWV 552 “St. Anne” (Arranged by Arnold Schoenberg for Orchestra)
Bach, J.S. (arr. Schoenberg): 18 Chorale Preludes: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 654 (Arranged by Arnold Schoenberg for Orchestra)
Bach, J.S. (arr. Schoenberg): Das Orgel-Büchlein: Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist, BWV 631 (Arranged by Arnold Schoenberg for Orchestra)
Schoenberg Interview with Halsey Stevens
DISC 28:
Schoenberg: Zwei Gesänge, Op. 1
Schoenberg: Vier Lieder, Op. 2
Schoenberg: Das Buch der hängenden Gärten, Op. 15
DISC 29:
Schoenberg: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11
Schoenberg: Fünf Klavierstücke, Op. 23
Schoenberg: Sechs kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19
Schoenberg: Suite für Klavier, Op. 25
Schoenberg: Zwei Klavierstücke, Op. 33a & b
DISC 30:
Schoenberg: Suite for String Orchestra
Schoenberg: Six Songs, Op. 8
DISC 31:
Schoenberg: Friede Auf Erden, Op. 13
Brahms (arr. Schoenberg): Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 (Arranged by Arnold Schoenberg for Orchestra)
DISC 32/33:
Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610)
DISC 34:
Schoenberg: Serenade, Op. 24
Schoenberg: Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon, Op. 26
DISC 35:
Schoenberg: 4 Pieces for Mixed Choir, Op. 27
Schoenberg: 3 Satiren, Op. 28
Schoenberg: Suite, Op. 29
DISC 36:
Schoenberg: Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello, Op. 45
Schoenberg: Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, Op. 41
DISC 37:
Schoenberg: Variations on a Recitative, Op. 40
Schoenberg: Phantasy for Violin and Piano Accompaniment, Op. 47
Schoenberg: Theme and Variations, Op. 43B
DISC 38:
Schoenberg: Von heute auf morgen, Op. 32 (1928/29)
DISC 39:
Schoenberg: Psalm 130 “De profundis”, op. 50b (1950)
Schoenberg: Moderner Psalm, op. 50c (1950)
Schoenberg: 6 Stücke, Op. 35 (1930)
Schoenberg: Kanon für 4 Stimmen: Gravitationszentrum eigenen Sonnensystem
Schoenberg: Kanon für 4 Stimmen: Von meinen Steinen (Für Erwin Stein)
Schoenberg: Canon for 4 Voices: Mr. Saunders I owe you thanks (for Richard Drake Saunders)
Schoenberg: Kanon für 4 Stimmen: O daß der Sinnen doch so viele sind!
Schoenberg: Kanon für 4 Stimmen: Wenn der schwer Gedrückte klagt (Bärenreiter II)
Schoenberg: Kanon für 3 Stimmen: Wer mit der Welt laufen will (für David Bach)
Schoenberg: Canon for 3 Voices: No man can escape
Schoenberg: Canon for 3 Voices: I, too, was not better off
Schoenberg: Canon for 4 Voices: I am almost sure, when your nurse will change your diapers (for Artur Rodzinsky on the birth of his son Richard)
Schoenberg: Kanon für 5 Stimmen: Arnold Schönberg beglückwünschst herzlichst Concert Gebouw
Schoenberg: Kanon für 4 Stimmen: Es ist zu dumm (for Rudolph Ganz) (Bärenreiter XXII)
Schoenberg: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (After Monn’s Concerto in D Major for Harpsichord) (1935)
DISC 40:
Stravinsky: Variations – Aldous Huxley in Memoriam
Stravinsky: Abraham and Isaac – Sacred Ballad for Baritone and Chamber Orchestra
Stravinsky: Introitus – T. S. Elliot in Memoriam
Stravinsky: Requiem Canticles (To the Memory of Helen Buchanan Seeger)
DISC 41:
Gesualdo: Madrigali a cinque voci. Libro Sesto
DISC 42:
Stravinsky: Symphonies of Wind Instruments (Revised 1947 version)
Stravinsky: Les Noces
Stravinsky: Les Noces – Version for Solo Voices, Chorus, Pianola, 2 Cimbaloms, Harmonium and Precussion (1919)
Stravinsky: Chant du rossignol
DISC 43:
Stravinsky: The Flood – A Musical Play (Adapted from the York & Chester Cycles of Miracle Plays & the Book of Genesis)
Stravinsky: Les Noces
Stravinsky: Mass for Mixed Chorus and Double Wind Quintet
DISC 44:
Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra (Revised 1949 Version)
Stravinsky: Two Poems by Konstantin Balmont
Stravinsky: Three Japanese Lyrics
Stravinsky: Tilim-bom
Stravinsky: 4 Russian Songs for Voice, Flute, Harp and Guitar
Stravinsky: Epitaphium (For the Tombstone of Prince Max Egon zu Fürstenberg)
Stravinsky: Double Canon “Raoul Dufy in Memoriam” for String Quartet
Stravinsky: Danses Concertantes for Chamber Orchestra