Leonard Bernstein conducting

[Coopmv]

Just trying to "sure up" the catalogue a bit, and wanted a page to turn to for suggestions from time to time.

DVD recs welcomed as well.

I also have the following DVD.  To see Bernstein's directing the VPO and the chorus for the last movement of the Beethoven 9th was simply quite an exhilarating experience.

[Coopmv]

Just ordered this DVD at Amazon MarketPlace ...

[Brian]

I haven't heard too many. I'll go with...
- Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique
- Dvorak, Symphony No 7 (despite Kubelik, Kertesz, Suitner, and Ancerl, still my favorite recording of this work)
- Randall Thompson, Symphony No 2

Honorable mentions:
- Bernstein, Candide
- Original cast recording, West Side Story (though I think somebody else did the actual conducting?)
- Mahler, Symphony No 1 (Concertgebouw)

[hornteacher]

My 3 Favorites (this was hard to narrow down):

1) Shostakovich Symphony 1 and 7/Chicago Symphony on DG


2) Schumann Symphonies/Vienna Philharmonic on DG


3) Copland Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Billy the Kid, Fanfare for the Common Man/New York Philharmonic on Sony

[Bogey]

My 3 Favorites (this was hard to narrow down):

1) Shostakovich Symphony 1 and 7/Chicago Symphony on DG

I did not know that Lenny conducted any Shost?  I will have to check this out.

[Coopmv]

I did not know that Lenny conducted any Shost?  I will have to check this out.

Especially with the CSO, which was a bit unusual. 

[Brian]

I did not know that Lenny conducted any Shost?  I will have to check this out.

His recording of 5 and 9 is quite controversial. The Fifth has the happiest "happy ending" of any Fifth I've heard...

[hornteacher]

I did not know that Lenny conducted any Shost?  I will have to check this out.

Yes, it was a HUGELY successful recording of LBs only collaboration with the CSO.  Won lots of critical praise and awards.  Read some of the reviews on ArkivMusic or Amazon.  Or better yet just buy the recording and have fun listening to LB/CSO play the dickens out of the 7th.

[Franco]

Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms / Poulenc: Gloria / Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
Copland: Appalachian Spring/Rodeo/Billy The Kid/Fanfare For The Common Man
Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris (NYPhil)

[Herman]

Personally I find a lot of Bernstein's recording aren't ageing particularly well. I find his Schumann symphonies with the NYPO, for instance, virtually unlistenable.

I have the late seventies Mahler cycle with the VPO on DVD, and even though you do not want to watch all that LB emoting (nor the huge sideburns in the orchestra), this cycle may have a little edge on the later DG cycle when LB was getting a little lacrymose at times. I think the VPO usually play a 100% (or even more) for Bernstein.

[Grazioso]

Obviously Ditto for his Copland of both Sony and DG vintage.



One of the most intriguing and gripping Bruckner performances I've heard. He makes what to me is an old warhorse sound fresh again.



Uneven to be sure, but very engaging and at times very good.

Whether I ultimately like a Bernstein performance or not, I find they almost always capture my attention more fully than those of many other conductors.

[DavidW]

I did not know that Lenny conducted any Shost?  I will have to check this out.

Seriously!?  He's one of the greatest Shosty conductors.  Shostakovich has himself praised Bernstein's conducting at the premiere of one of his symphonies.  Check him out, but go with the Sony recordings, every single one of them kicks ass.

[DavidW]

His recording of 5 and 9 is quite controversial. The Fifth has the happiest "happy ending" of any Fifth I've heard...

But that's the one that Shostakovich himself praised.  It seems that composers are less pedantic about literally correct performances than audiences are.

[DarkAngel]

Definitely the NYPO Mahler set, great set that literally launched Mahler from an obsucre composer to his exaulted status today.
I choose the older set because the packaging of new NYPO set is annoying and sound not noticeably better, also prefer the 1960s NYPO set to the later slower 1980s DG set (except for the VPO/DG 5th which is his best)

Also the Gershwin material finds Bernstein completely at home with the jazzy/broadway elements, show his pianist skills with
Rhapsody and the American in Paris is just amazing, Lenny is unstoppable and just soars with this dramatic jazzy material, can see Leslie Caron/Gene Kelly dancing through the fantasy scences from movie

Glad to see many other members find his NYPO Sibelius set to be one of the very best......

[Herman]

Definitely the NYPO Mahler set, great set that literally launched Mahler from an obsucre composer to his exaulted status today.

the notion that Bernstein was the first Mahler champion is a myth.

[Drasko]

Whether I ultimately like a Bernstein performance or not, I find they almost always capture my attention more fully than those of many other conductors.

Completely agree with this, I might dislike his interpretation of some piece or other but he gets huge respect from me for always trying to dig deep, I've never yet encountered Bernstein auto-piloting through something.

Though I do have huge gaps in familiarity with his recordings (most American repertoire, some central romantics like Schumann or Brahms ...)

Out of recordings I'm familiar with, I'm particularly fond of:

also, dark horse favorite - Britten - Four Sea Interludes with Boston Symphony
 

[Brian]

But that's the one that Shostakovich himself praised.  It seems that composers are less pedantic about literally correct performances than audiences are.

Frankly, were I a composer, I would be very happy to listen to what other people heard in my music. I would be flattered to discover that my way wasn't the only way. So yes, that precept makes a lot of sense. Composers probably appreciate hearing their music in a way they don't expect (...unless it sucks  ).

[DavidW]

Frankly, were I a composer, I would be very happy to listen to what other people heard in my music. I would be flattered to discover that my way wasn't the only way. So yes, that precept makes a lot of sense. Composers probably appreciate hearing their music in a way they don't expect (...unless it sucks  ).

Cue Karl-- experiences?  opinions?

[bhodges]

My three favorites:

Bernstein: Overture to Candide, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Suite from On the Waterfront, Fancy Free (Bernstein/NYPO) - Classic snapshot showing his partnership with the orchestra at its peak.

Bernstein in Japan (DVD): Schumann: Symphony No. 1 / Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 (Bernstein/NYPO) - Live recording from 1979 in Tokyo, and a great artifact.  Nothing like seeing him in action.

Shostakovich: Symphonies 1 and 7 (Bernstein/Chicago Symphony Orchestra) - Electrifying, and the first version of the 7th I ever heard.

Runner-up:

Ives: Holidays (Bernstein/NYPO)

--Bruce

[Novi]

Bernstein in Japan (DVD): Schumann: Symphony No. 1 / Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 (Bernstein/NYPO) - Live recording from 1979 in Tokyo, and a great artifact.  Nothing like seeing him in action.

--Bruce

On the topic of seeing Lenny, I really like his Ravel's Concerto in G, where he conducts from the piano. It's in the same DVD concert series, Bernstein in Paris.

http://www.youtube.com/v/xjdAyy1xatA