Fünf Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtkartentexten von Peter Altenberg, Op. 4

The Five Orchestral Songs (German: Fünf Orchesterlieder, nach Ansichtkarten-Texten von Peter Altenberg), Op. 4, for medium voice and orchestra, were composed by Alban Berg in 1911/12. Numbers 2 and 3 were premiered under the baton of Berg's teacher Arnold Schoenberg at the Vienna Musikverein on 31 March 1913, known as the Skandalkonzert for the riot that erupted during Berg's songs. The texts are taken from picture-postcard texts ('Ansichtskartentexte' in German) by the contemporary Viennese poet Peter Altenberg (hence the more commonly used title Altenberg Lieder). The texts deal with the stormy but beautiful condition of the soul, and the palpable sensations of love and longing. Berg's setting is for a large orchestra. The music has many displaced ostinati and the conflicted, lyrical passion found in much of Berg's works.