Editorial Product Review:Amazon.com:This release comes from Sony's immense backlog of famous recordings of Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. In fact, these works trace the evolution of the New York Philharmonic into a world-class orchestra in the late 1950s under Bernstein's hand. At this remove in time, we can almost hear New York in these works. Bernstein deftly captures the shimmering glamour of his music, particularly in Overture to
Candide and the astonishing Symphonic Dances from
West Side Story. If you don't own this music--and these performances--you should.
--Paul Cook
Amazon.com:Fancy Free provided Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolf Green with the inspiration for the his hit musical
On the Town. The ballet describes the adventures of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City, and does so with music typically jazzy and popular in style. Coupled with the marvelous dance music from
West Side Story and the suite from Bernstein's only film score,
On the Waterfront, this disc should quickly become the cornerstone of any Bernstein collection. One of the problems Bernstein's music has faced both on disc and in public performance arises from the simple fact that no one played it better than he did. As you can hear for yourself, he's a tough, but perhaps not completely impossible, act to follow.
--David Hurwitz
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Disc 1:- Overture to Candide-Allegro molto con brio
- Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: Prologue. Allegro moderato
- Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: 'Somewhere.' Adagio
- Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: Scherzo. Vivace e leggiero
- Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: Mambo. Presto
- Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: Cha-Cha
- Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: Meeting Scene. Meno mosso
- Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: 'Cool' Fugue. Allegretto
- Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: Rumble. Molto allegro
- Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: Finale. Adagio
- Symphonic Suite from the film On the Waterfront: Andante (with dignity)- Presto barbaro
- Symphonic Suite from the film On the Waterfront: Allegro molto
- Symphonic Suite from the film On the Waterfront: More Flowing
- Symphonic Suite from the film On the Waterfront: Moving forward, with warmth-Largamente-a tempo-Calmato-Andante come prima-sempre avanti,
- Symphonic Suite from the film On the Waterfront: Allegro non troppo, molto marcato
- Symphonic Suite from the film On the Waterfront: A tempo
- Fancy Free Ballet: I. Enter three Sailors
- Fancy Free Ballet: II. Scene at the Bar
- Fancy Free Ballet: III. Enter two Girls
- Fancy Free Ballet: IV. Pas de deux
- Fancy Free Ballet: V. Competition Scene
- Fancy Free Ballet: VI. Three Dance Variations: Variation I (Galop)
- Fancy Free Ballet: VI. Three Dance Variations: Variation II (Waltz)
- Fancy Free Ballet: VI. Three Dance Variations: Variation III (Danzon
- Fancy Free Ballet: VII. Finale
Buyer Reviews
Average Buyer Rating:
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Classical Bernstein
Our Philadelphia Orchestra subscription this year included several concerts with Bernstein's compositions and I ordered this memorable recording after one of those concerts. Now I can listed to it whenever I want. What a great purchase.
Customer Rating: -
A one-of-a-kind (almost) collection
Anyone who loves Bernstein's theater music has probably owned this CD or its LP equivalent for decades. The sonics are still great--the huge, lush sound that Cloumbia favored for the NY Phil. in Manhattan Center. David Hurwitz is silly to say that Bernstein's music has had "a problem" because he conducted it so well. There's no problem, but it's undeniable that LB was his own ideal conductor. Recently Carl Davis, an experienced film conductor, has led the Royal Phil. of London in the same program we have here. The sound is updated somewhat, and the price is ultra-bargain. So for the first time in forty years one can say that LB has a close rival in the West Side Story suite.
Customer Rating: -
One to remember Lenny by
A composer/conductor at the peak of his energy level in some of his own most vibrant music, working with an orchestra that (in these recordings anyway) was an extension of his personality--what more could you possibly want? In later years Bernstein re-recorded most of this music for DG (including the WSS "Symphonic Dances"), and while those readings are technically fine, they miss a lot of the verve and New York atmosphere that this CD exudes. The version I'm writing about is a 2004 reissue with remastered sound and a bonus in the form of Three Dance Episodes from "On the Town."
Customer Rating: -
Fundamental recording icon !
I am not a hard fan of Leonard Bernstein , but there are exceptional cases like this in which you simply have yo say : Bravo Maestro !
The Candide overture is terrific . Based on the Voltaire work , the overture of almost five minutes is a tribute to the life . played with dyonisiac enthusiasm and overpassing passion .
The West Side Story Suite is extraordinary played . Personally I do not know about any other performance which can match with this one .
On the waterfront is simply brilliant . This is the soundtrack of that brave film of Elia Kazan of the early fifties .
And Fancy free performing only matches with another version of the same director with the Columbia Symphony of 1950 . I hace it in vynil , because believe or not ; this recording has not transfered to CD .
But this set is simply fundamental for you . Be or not a fan of Bernstein , because that inspired music represents the golden years of Bernstein as composer and conductor .
The New York Philarmonic members played as real Greek Gods .
Supreme majesty and overwhelming passion .
