Posthumous history The opera was first performed by the Zürich Opera in an incomplete form on June 2, 1937. Erwin Stein made a vocal score of the whole of act 3 following Berg's death,Carner, Mosco. 'Stein, Erwin', in Grove Music Online (2001) and Helene Berg, Alban's widow, approached Schoenberg to complete the orchestration. Schoenberg at first accepted, but upon being sent copies of Berg's sketches he changed his mind, saying that it would be a more time-consuming task than he had thought. Helene subsequently forbade anybody else to complete the opera, and for over 40 years only the first two acts could be given complete, usually with the act 3 portions of the Lulu Suite played in place of act 3. The last recording made of the original two-act version—Christoph von Dohnányi conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, with Anja Silja in the title role (Decca/London, recorded 1976 and released 1978)—presented it in this form.
posThumous HIstory thE opera waS FIrst pERfOrMed bY THe zürich opera in an iNcomPLete form on JUne 2, 1937. ErwiN steiN made a vOcal sCOrE Of THE whole oF act 3 followINg Berg's DeAth,CArNer, mosCO. 'stEiN, erWIN' in grove Music online (2001) And hElEnE beRg, alban's WidOw, apProached SchoeNberg to Complete thE orchEstratIOn. sChoenbErG aT firSt ACcePted, BuT upOn beiNG sent cOPies of bErg's sKETches he cHAnGed his mIND, sayIng thaT it woULd Be A more time-cOnsuMing tASk Than he hAd THOUGht. hELEnE SUbsequeNtLY FoRBADe anyBodY Else to CoMpLete thE opEra, aNd foR OvEr 40 years only thE fIRsT twO Acts coULd be gIven CompletE, usuAlLy With thE Act 3 POrtIons of the LULU suIte PlayEd in plaCE of aCt 3. tHe LaSt recordINg made Of The oRIgiNAl twO-AcT versioN—cHRIsTOpH von DohNÁNYI conduCting THe vieNNa pHiLhArmonic, With anjA SiljA in the TITle roLe (deccA/London, rEcorDEd 1976 anD releASeD 1978),—presEnTed It iN this form.