Leonard Bernstein conducts Mahler

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In short, what Bernstein gave us was the total Mahlerian package... these first versions have lost none of their freshness or sense of discovery. As such, they are irreplaceable, and incomparable.

The young Leonard Bernstein was already at the height of his conducting powers during his 1958–69 reign at the New York Philharmonic, and none of his achievements from that period had greater impact than the complete cycle of Mahler symphonies. Indeed, the 1962 release of the Third, a galvanizing recording that arguably has still not been surpassed, can be said to have launched the “Mahler Renaissance”. Other incomparable performances from this landmark set are the Seventh and Eighth. The latest remastered 12-album reissue also includes Bernstein’s 1972 live Israel Philharmonic recording of Das Lied von der Erde – “a fine, committed performance … highly enjoyable” (Gramophone) – with soloists Christa Ludwig and René Kollo.

Excerpt from review of prior release of this set:

These interpretations are particularly important because they completely belie Bernstein's reputation as an indulgent artist given over to excess and emotional exaggeration. In fact, by today's standards, what Bernstein gives us here is Mahler that captures all of the music's extremes of excitement and color while never losing sight of the music's structure and carefully planned proportions. Bernstein's Mahler is, in fact, shapely. Nothing that he does lacks clear justification in the printed page. I can point to countless examples of recent Mahler conductors who are both more self-indulgent and less observant of detail than Bernstein ever was--Levine, Segerstam, Sinopoli, Rattle, and Norrington among them--without being notably more in sync with the music's expressive point.

In short, what Bernstein gave us was the total Mahlerian package, and while he did better some of these performances in his DG cycle (notably Symphonies Nos. 1 and 5), these first versions have lost none of their freshness or sense of discovery. As such, they are irreplaceable, and incomparable.

– ClassicsToday (David Hurwitz)



Product Description:


  • Release Date: March 13, 2020


  • Catalog Number: 19439708562


  • UPC: 194397085624


  • Label: Sony Music Entertainment


  • Number of Discs: 12


  • Period: Romantic, 20th Century


  • Composer: Gustav Mahler


  • Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra



Works:


  1. Symphony No. 1 in D Major "Titan"

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  2. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection"

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra, ollegiate Chorale

    Performer: Jennie Tourel (Soprano), Lee Venora (Soprano)

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  3. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Women's Chorus of The Schola Cantorum, Boys' Choir of The Church of The Transfiguration

    Performer: Martha Lipton (Mezzo Soprano)


  4. Symphony No. 4 in G Major

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra

    Performer: Reri Grist (Soprano)

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  5. Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  6. Symphony No. 6 in A Minor "Tragic"

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  7. Symphony No. 7

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  8. Symphony No. 8 "Symphony of a Thousand"

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus, Leeds Festival Chorus, Finchley Children's Music Group, Highgate Schoolboys' Choir, Orpington Junior Singers

    Performer: Erna Spoorenberg (Soprano), Gywneth Annear (Soprano), Anna Reynolds (Mezzo Soprano), Norma Proctor (Contralto), John Mitchinson (Tenor), Vladimir Ruzdjak (Baritone), Donald McIntyre (Bass)

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  9. Symphony No. 9

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  10. Symphony No. 10 (Adagio)

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: New York Philharmonic Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  11. Das Lied von der Erde

    Composer: Gustav Mahler

    Ensemble: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

    Performer: Christa Ludwig (Mezzo Sooprano), René Kollo (Tenor)

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein


  12. Gustav Mahler Remembered

    Performer: William Malloch (Speaker)