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Notes and Editorial Reviews
This inexpensive seven-disc set offers the basic Bernstein in the composer’s own incomparable performances with the New York Philharmonic. His later versions for Deutsche Gramophone may feature some of this music in the final, revised editions, but the differences are never large, and Bernstein in his more youthful prime is a tough act to follow, even for himself. Consider the second movement of the First Symphony, with its wicked use of the Torah tropes and climax featuring timpani pounded with maracas. Even the Israel Philharmonic doesn’t capture quite the same explosive energy that Bernstein does here.
In this set, you get all three symphonies, all of the ballets including the complete Dybbuk (still very underrated), Zino
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Francescatti in the earlier of Bernstein’s two Sony recordings of the Serenade after Plato’s “Symposium,” the suites from On the Waterfront, On the Town and West Side Story, the Candide Overture, Chichester Psalms, the witty song cycles I Hate Music! and La Bonne Cuisine, Trouble in Tahiti (so much better in this original version as opposed to its inclusion in the awful opera A Quiet Place), and best of all, Mass. I have great personal affection for this latter work, sort of Bernstein’s Broadway answer to Britten’s War Requiem, with its typically eclectic and riotous mixture of styles.
No notes, texts and translations are included, naturally enough for a budget release, which is a pity in the works that have extensive Hebrew or Latin words, but this is the only drawback in what is otherwise a true reference edition. The performances, like the music, have an enduring value that hasn’t diminished one bit, and the sonics have held up quite well too.
-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
West Side Story: Symphonic Dances by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1960; USA
2.
Symphony no 3 "Kaddish" by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1961-1963; USA
3.
Symphony no 2 "Age of Anxiety" by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1949; USA
4.
Symphony no 1 "Jeremiah" by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1943; USA
7.
Candide: Overture by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1956; USA
8.
Fancy Free by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1944; USA
9.
Facsimile by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1946; USA
10.
Dybbuk by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1974; USA
11.
Prelude, Fugue and Riffs by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Benny Goodman (Clarinet)
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Columbia Jazz Band
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1949/1955; United States
12.
On the Town: Three Dance episodes by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1944; USA
13.
I Hate Music by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Jennie Tourel (Mezzo Soprano),
Leonard Bernstein (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1943; USA
14.
La bonne cuisine by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Jennie Tourel (Mezzo Soprano),
Leonard Bernstein (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1947; USA
15.
Mass by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Alan Titus (Baritone)
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Norman Scribner Choir,
Berkshire Boy Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1971; USA
16.
Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
John Bogart (Alto)
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Camerata Singers
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1965; USA
17.
Trouble in Tahiti by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Michael Clarke (Tenor),
Nancy Williams (Mezzo Soprano),
Julian Patrick (Bass Baritone),
Antonia Butler (Soprano),
Mark Brown (Baritone)
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New York Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1952; USA
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 5 Customer Reviews )
Bernstein Plays Bernstein October 25, 2016
By George S. (Columbia, MD) See All My Reviews
"If you've seen Bernstein's brilliant conducting, you can hear it in "Bernstein Conducts Bernstein". Traditionally, Bernstein moved music with a moving rhythm, somewhat faster than other conductors on many pieces of music, symphonies, et al. You must be able to hear him lead in your heart, not just your ears."
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Bernstein conducts May 31, 2016
By Malcolm King (Belair, SA) See All My Reviews
"the music of Bernstein has always intrigued me,anything from jazz to his take on a mass. the listener has the chance to hear and enjoy the many styles he wrote. particulary the symposium after Plato,symphony no 2 and the short musical,Trouble in Tahiti.I would like to have had some programme notes for the less familiar pieces. otherwise a great collection and grat value. Malcolm King"
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Definitive Bernstein April 26, 2016
By Mark S. (Fort Mill, SC) See All My Reviews
"I purchased the set to acquaint myself with his oeuvre. It was fun listening to the various pieces. In the end, I gave this set of Bernstein performances three stars. The reason is that in my judgment most of the music contained in the set hardly bears repetitive listening. Bernstein's style is very eclectic and wide-ranging, but non sequitur in its musical architecture. The Mass especially made me laugh at times, but it was woefully banal to my ears. Bernstein achieved too much. On the positive side, it IS a very good value for all the music you get for the price. It's just that you won't be playing it often to perhaps justify it."
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