A man, a woman and a love that breaks conventions: Richard Dehmel’s poem Verklärte Nacht inspired Arnold Schoenberg to write his same-named string sextet, whose late-Romantic tonal language captures the atmosphere of a particular night and the state of mind of a couple. The work in turn inspired Erich Korngold, who was only 17 years old, to write his expressive string quartet. We also hear the piece Angelus! Prière aux anges gardiens in an arrangement for string quintet from Franz Liszt’s piano cycle Années de pèlerinage.

 

 

Franz Liszt
Angelus! Prière aux anges gardiens (arr. for string quintet)

Arnold Schönberg
Verklärte Nacht for string sextet, op. 4

Erich Wolfgang Korngold
String Sextet in D major, op. 10