Hi Alex! Verklärte Nacht is a masterpiece... you can clearly hear the strong Wagner, Tristan and Isolde harmonies which saturates this piece.
Bernstein writes in his book (the joy of music) "Transfigured Night, which Schönberg wrote at the age of 25, was a string quartett in which he was actually out-Wagnering Wagner!!
I also love his "Pelleas und Melisande", (from Schönberg's still tonal period.)
Yes! Poor Arnold had great obstacles in his long career... first of all he was a jew and had to deal with the Nazi regim... went to the US!
The Viennese audience where rioting at the performances of his
12 tone string quartets. The situation got more and more out of hand. He enjoyed coming to the States, where his string quartets where listened to without any riots.
He was a great genius, but he failed to reach a broader audience. Alban Berg is the winner of the Vienna School.
Fred