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

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Posted by Brian Cheney on May 17, 2007 at 18:24:51

In Reply to: I don't think - for the most part - that I'm a Leonard Bernstein fan. posted by sjb on May 17, 2007 at 11:43:28:

As Lenny aged his tempi slowed and his interpretations became more willfull and pulled about.

However, he was a fabulous talent and many recordings from the 1940's and 50's (and into the mid 1960's) prove it. Start with his own music, the ballet Wonderful Town, filmscore "On the Waterfront", the musical On the Town (with Adolph and Greene), West Side Story, Candide and the "Age of Anxiety".

The young Lenny was almost peerless in Schumann, check out the DGG Originals of the 1953 "Stadium Symphony" recordings of warhorses, including his definitive Schumann 2nd. The NYPO "Paris" symphonies represent some of the best Haydn on record. The first stereo recording of the Mahler 3 (1961) is still a benchmark IMHO. His recordings of Copland and Harris surpass Koussevitsky, his mentor.

Just look for 1966 and earlier, and you'll find plenty to like and love.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

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)

Follow Ups

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)

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

207.200.116.196

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