Webern: Vocal and Orchestral Works - 5 Pieces / 5 Sacred Songs / Variations / Bach-Musical Offering: Ricercar

Robert Craft's abiding love and understanding of Anton Webern's music have made him an internationally renowned champion of this elusive composer's oeuvre.

Whether transforming the 'Ricercata' from J.S. Bach's A Musical Offering into a kaleidoscope of orchestral sounds, creating vivid new colours through ever-changing vocal and instrumental groupings, revelling in multi-layered polyphony or cultivating the purest simplicity, Webern reveals new musical worlds which remain as fresh and fascinating today as when they were written.

"[Robert Craft's] new home, Naxos, adds the lure of bargain prices to recordings that would be important no matter the cost…they provide rich overviews of the evolving styles of Webern and Schoenberg. Many of the performances are by the Twentieth Century Classics Ensemble, a group of veteran New York new-music players who could just as well call themselves the Robert Craft All-Stars…their interpretations reflect Mr. Craft's half century of experience with this repertory." The New York Times