After listening to that piece, I cannot enjoy the Bolero anymore since it's just sooooooooo boring with that repeated tunes. The irony is, I might be the only few ones in the audience who thought that way. The most influential reason why I can sort of understand that Schoenberg piece is the visual that I got from the orchestral playing - it helps me in keeping up with what's going on with the music. I wonder if it's the same with Berg's violin concerto, i.e. I might be able to enjoy the piece if I actually see the performance live. A pity since I missed the performance of the concerto by MSO last season - it was programmed together with Mahler 5! That was one of the most regrettable thing that I've done. Anyway, thanks for the advice and sorry for the lengthy post/rant. I won't give up on the concerto.

Hah, I was busy doing other stuff and did not actually listen to the concerto tonight. Instead, I watched the documentary of Rafael Kubelik on ABC earlier - his life was very interesting. Back to the concerto: yes, I know that Berg composed the piece in memory of Alma's daughter. I also read somewhere that the concerto itself is actually like a Requiem for Berg because it is the final completed piece that he finished. I have heard about Lulu, but I always restraint myself from listening to opera - at least for the time being. Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht seems to have always been recommended for people that want to get into twelve-tone or atonal music. I will try it out - when I feel like I'm ready to tackle this kind of music. Around 2 months ago, I attended a concert of MSO where they programmed Schoenberg's Variatons for Orchestra, Op. 31 before Ravel's Bolero. Guess what, I who have never heard Schoenberg's music until that time, LOVED that piece very much. TBC...

Interesting opinions. I, however, remain unaffected with this concerto. Perhaps my unfamiliarity with 12-tone rows music is the biggest challenge for me to understand this piece. I have listened to it 3 or 4 times already and yet still did not understand or affected by the music (I listened to Mutter and Levine recording). I'll give it another try tonight.

What do you think of Berg's violin concerto?

hi, thanks for the recommendations. :) I'm really looking forward to hear the Requiem, that's my favorite genre of classical music - it's always full of emotions, it's powerful, sad and really scary. I checked out some of the Slavonic Dances on youtube and I'm sure I've already heard them. Nonetheless, they're such beautiful, I'll have to buy them on a CD if I find a non-expensive one. :)

Repeated listening of Mahler's Tragic Symphony is no good :)..Btw, are you anywhere near Melbourne? There's a performance of Verdi's Requiem coming up this weekend.

Welcome back.

ello :)

SB :: Stockhausen interview from 1982 (audio) - http://www.harsmedia.com/SoundBlog/Archief/00628.php