A. Schönberg - ODE TO NAPOLEON Op.41

Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte (text by Lord Byron) for String Quartet, Piano and Reciter op.41. - Marina Weigel, Piano / Sonya Suldina, Joanna Zaremba, Violins / Jonathan Kliegel, Viola / Sara Käser, Violoncello / Hans-Jürg Rickenbacher, Reciter / Javier-Ulises Illán, Conductor.- HSLU, Switzerland. December 2013. Abschlusskonzert des Workshops mit Stefan Litwin SO, 15. Dezember 2013 St. Charles Hall, Meggen About the composition: The impetus for this composition was twofold: 8 December 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, Schönberg heard President Roosevelt&"day of infamy" radio address; and in January 1942 Schönberg received a commission from the League of Composers for a short chamber work. The League celebrated its 20th anniversary by commissioning several 10- to 20-minute works. Schönberg accepted the commission and composed the work between 12 March and 12 June 1942. However, it seems that Schönberg was not satisfied that his work would receive an adequate performance at the League of Composers&concert, and he declined to send them the piece. He and his students searched for suitable performers and venues, but the "Ode" was not premiered publicly until 23 November 1944. Schönberg exercised great care in choosing the text; he wanted to compose something on a text by Lord Byron, for the poet&support of Greece&struggle for independence mirrored Schönberg&allegiances to the Europe struggling against Hitler. Of his decision to compose the piece, Schönberg wrote: "I...