Alban Berg

Alban Berg was born in Vienna on 9 February 1885 and died in the same city on 24 December 1935. He at first studied composition with Arnold Schoenberg, and with Anton Webern endured the troublesome years when serialism was unpopular. His opera Wozzeck did much to clear the air. Just as significant is the intense and beautiful Violin Concerto from that turbulent period.

A selection of articles about Alban Berg

Spotlight. A Window into the Glories of the Past - Geoff Pearce listens to Adrian Boult conducting Berg, Stravinsky and Vaughan Williams. '... truly inspired performance.'

Ensemble. Contrasting Moods - Mike Wheeler, in his last report from this year's Buxton Festival, is impressed by Sacha Rattle and Peter Donohoe

Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - A hundred not out

Profile. A Fascinating Background and Career - Ron Bierman pays tribute to the late Nicolas Reveles, in the second part of his interview with the composer

CD Spotlight. Fascinating Listening - Music by Alban Berg, recommended by Geoff Pearce. '... the BBC Symphony Orchestra is on top form ...'

CD Spotlight. A Delight - Song cycles by Mahler, Berg and Rhian Samuel, sung by Ruby Hughes with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, impress Geoff Pearce. 'Right from the start, she shows a more flexible and somewhat lighter voice, but a very good understanding of the lyrics, and she colours her voice beautifully to express this.'

Ensemble. The Humanity of Wozzeck - Alban Berg from Salzburg, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Well-deserved Ovations - 'Lulu' lands in Rome after fifty years, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Painterly Production - Alban Berg's 'Lulu', live in high definition from Metropolitan Opera, impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Towards the Abyss - Alban Berg's 'Wozzeck' at La Scala, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A High Level - German operas at the Enescu Festival in Bucharest, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Exploring the Darker Side - Dan Miller and Richard Hodges at Derby's Festival of Britten, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Shimmer, Sizzle and Shock - Roderic Dunnett is enthralled by Alban Berg's 'Lulu', currently on tour with Welsh National Opera

Ensemble. Purity of Sound - Richard Strauss, Fauré, Debussy, Poulenc, Wolf and Berg from Christiane Karg and Malcolm Martineau, heard by Bill Newman

Ensemble. An Exciting Five Years - Mike Wheeler was at André de Ridder's last concert as Principal Conductor of Sinfonia Viva

CD Spotlight. Supple Artistry - Isabelle Faust plays Berg and Beethoven, heard by Howard Smith. '... alive with dancing quicksilver and spring-heeled agility.'

Ensemble. Santa Fe, The City Different - Maria Nockin enjoys the summer opera fare in North America's oldest capital city

Ensemble. Exotic Soundscapes - Two London concerts featuring music from the opera to the orient, attended by Malcolm Miller

Ensemble. Unmissable Talents - An array of artists at London's Wigmore Hall, reviewed by Bill Newman

Ensemble. Full of Irony - Shostakovich's 'The Nose', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Truly Miraculous - The Emerson Quartet, heard by Bill Newman

A Golden Treasury - Havergal Brian on European and American music, read by Patric Standford

Ensemble. When God and Man Collide - Giuseppe Pennisi visits the Salzburg Festival to investigate 'the downfall of the myth and the spirit of the music'

Ensemble. Performance to Cherish - Lawrence Budmen submits a further report from the Tanglewood Festival 2010

Ensemble. A Top-notch Formation - Operas by Zemlinsky and Puccini, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Seething with Evil - Franz Schreker's 'Die Gezeichneten', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Seldom Performed - 'Lulu' lands at La Scala, by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. A Flowing Delivery - Bach Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, heard by Howard Smith. '... vital technical flair ...'

Ensemble. Compelling Vocal Drama - Lawrence Budmen listens to Measha Brueggergosman and the New World Symphony

Timings - Universal Edition's preparations for the Mahler Centenary years (2010-2011), by Jennifer Paull

CD Spotlight. Utterly Absorbing - A sampler from Cedille Records, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... top quality standards.'

Ensemble. Beautiful Playing - More chamber music from the south west of Ireland, enjoyed by Kelly Ferjutz

Limitless Combinatorics - Eric Pettine postulates 'No Shortage of Melodies Anytime Soon', and offers some real hope for cynical musicians who think they've heard it all

Ensemble. Worldly Forces - Alban Berg's 'Wozzeck' at San Diego Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Colourful Renditions - Recitals by Denitsa Laffchieva and Evelina Puzaite, reviewed by Bill Newman

DVD Spotlight. Simple Attractions - Berg's 'Wozzeck', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... quite convincing enough ...'

CD Spotlight. Hope and fear - Berg and Britten violin concertos, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a violinist of superb accomplishment ...'

CD Spotlight. Precocious talent - The music of Fred Jonny Berg, reviewed by Patric Standford. '... Berg will probably be an outrageous success!'

Ensemble - Naughty but nice. David Thompson enjoys English National Opera's 'Lulu' at the London Coliseum