Schoenberg: Moses und Aron (complete opera recorded in 1984)

'Solti gives Schoenberg's masterly score a dynamism and warmth which set it firmly - if perhaps surprisingly - in the grand romantic tradition...As Aaron, Philip Langridge is lighter and more lyrical...Aage Haugland with his firm, dark bass makes his mark in the small role of the Priest; Barbara Bonney too is excellent as the Young Girl. Above all, the brilliant singing of the Chicago Symphony Chorus matches the playing of the orchestra in virtuosity. More than ever the question-mark concluding Act II makes a pointful close, with no feeling of a work unfinished. The brilliant recording has an even sharper focus on CD.'
The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs

Schoenberg's monumental opera occupied the composer from 1930-32 and was left unfinished at the time of his death in 1951; It was first staged in Zurich in 1957. The opera represents one of his greatest explorations of the serial or twelve-tone technique which he created, and always presents a huge challenge for any opera house that attempts to stage the work.

It is a work that Sir Georg Solti felt a great affinity with and during his career he conducted the opera over twenty times. He first conducted the opera in a series of what became legendary performances at Covent Garden in a production by Sir Peter Hall the 1960s. This recording was made in Chicago in 1984 at the height of Solti's tenure as Music Director.