I don't think - for the most part - that I'm a Leonard Bernstein fan.

Posted by sjb (A) on May 17, 2007 at 11:43:28

I've tried (maybe not enough) but my father grew up listening to and watching LB lead the NYPO and defintiely views him with quite a bit of reverance.

Through the years when I've mentioned that I've come to like or am interested in a piece of music he almost always recommends some version that LB conducted as a reference.

I've purchased several of these and save for a couple - like the Shosty 5th from 1959 - I've been left pretty unsatisfied.

Can't quite put my finger on why but two things have struck me with some regularity. One is a feeling of drama added for drama's sake and the other (from later in his career but the first complaint applies here as well) is the slooow pace... not something I'm inherently against but it seems like the momentum just isn't there.

Now, this post is flawed because I've gotten rid of most the discs I didn't like and don't remember what most of them were but one example of the slow part is his Mahler 9 w/the Concertgebouw Orchestra and his 1986 Tchaikovsky 6 with the NYPO (I do like - but don't love - his Tchaikovsky 4 from the late 50's. I also like things like his Copeland stuff and cheesy things like his Adagio For Strings, and, if I'm remembering correctly his Prokofiev 5).

Anyway, despite appearances (and my not so well articluated complaints) this isn't meant as a rant against LB it's more that I'm curious what people think about him and what are some recommended recordings.

Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Topic - I don't think - for the most part - that I'm a Leonard Bernstein fan. - sjb 11:43:28 05/17/07 (21)

As many have said of Lenny . . . - psgary 09:39:27 05/20/07 (0)

Thanks everyone!! - sjb 09:58:17 05/18/07 (0)

I'm appreciating Bernstein more and more while Ormandy--sadly--is fading away. - jdaniel 08:34:26 05/18/07 (1)

Ormandy..... - Todd Krieger 10:37:21 05/18/07 (0)

With Lenny, it came to be more and more about Lenny... - clarkjohnsen 08:24:02 05/18/07 (0)

Stick with the earlier NYPO stuff. - markrohr 05:22:05 05/18/07 (0)

Re: Lenny and slow tempos.... - C.B. 04:35:57 05/18/07 (0)

His Mahler set is regarded as a benchmark by some - John C. - Aussie 22:46:48 05/17/07 (0)

Re: I don't think - for the most part - that I'm a Leonard Bernstein fan. - Brian Cheney 18:24:51 05/17/07 (1)

Thanks! - sjb 21:28:10 05/17/07 (0)

Converted - Amphissa 17:30:03 05/17/07 (2)

I Generally Convert the Other Way...... - Todd Krieger 10:25:59 05/18/07 (0)

"Gimme some insight, gimme some personal perspective, gimme your soul laid out on that podium" - sjb 17:54:32 05/17/07 (0)

his Haydn symphonies - docw 16:44:31 05/17/07 (2)

Re: his Haydn symphonies - sjb 17:59:09 05/17/07 (1)

for my Dad, who started me in the music aspect of the hobby,... - docw 10:46:37 05/18/07 (0)

I would have agreed with you a few years ago..... - Chuck Y 13:49:37 05/17/07 (1)

Re: I would have agreed with you a few years ago..... - sjb 17:55:11 05/17/07 (0)

Sure is a proliferation of it - dpy 13:33:59 05/17/07 (1)

550 cd's on Amazon just for symphonies. - sjb 17:57:15 05/17/07 (0)

I don't think - for the most part - that I'm a Leonard Bernstein fan.

Post a Message!