Leonard Bernstein
If there’s an essential “Leonard Bernstein at 100” album, this one, so far, is it: excellent performances of relatively unknown music deserving to be heard.
An early highlight of the upcoming Leonard Bernstein centennial is Sony Classical’s 25-disc box set.
The Boston Conservatory production of Mass was mostly frustrating, but Leonard Bernstein’s score came across very strongly.
One takeaway from the concert: music can be forward-looking and even provocative without being off-putting and ugly.
Feel free to disagree, add to them, come up with your own list, etc. Above all, enjoy!
It occurred to me that, given the variety of the Metropolitan Opera’s current problems, maybe General Manager Peter Gelb should consider putting this best of all possible Candides on his menu.
Classical CD Review: San Francisco Symphony’s “West Side Story” — A Brashly Invigorating Performance
The music of West Side Story sounds grippingly urgent and colorful as ever in the hands of one of America’s best orchestras and conductors.
Directed ably by Joel Zwick, a long-time collaborator of Hershey Felder’s, the excellent Maestro: Leonard Bernstein includes the performer singing, playing the piano, and conducting as well as telling stories.
Rethinking the Repertoire #5: Leonard Bernstein’s “Songfest”
Bernstein’s Songfest is Exhibit A in the argument that American orchestras and conductors need to champion the music of these shores.
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