CD 1
We kick off proceedings with the superheated sprint and flicker
of the Candide Overture. It takes the breath away even
in the broad romantic theme.
West Side Story is reflected in the Ramin and Kostal
orchestration that makes up the Symphonic Dances. They’re
all here: sleazy, laid-back, bluesy, woozily romantic, eager
and rowdy. The highlight comes in the ever-so-on-your-toes Cha
Cha. one can virtually see Bernstein's smile as well as
his sentimentality in the Adagio finale where Prokofiev’s
Romeo and Juliet must have had its influence. Spun silver
meets a fine drizzle of Stateside lachrymose romance!
This version of the dry and witty Prelude, Fugue and Riffs
has seen plenty of action on disc. Here is Benny Goodman holding
on by his fingernails.
After three tapes from the 1960s we have Hilary Hahn's 1998
Serenade. Its transparency lets light and air into a
piece which although more dynamic in the hands of Francescatti
and Stern responds well to this more diaphanous and nuanced
recording and approach from Hahn, Baltimore and Zinman. There’s
a touch of Pulcinella in Aristophanes, of the
Barber concerto in Ericymachus and of Schuman or and
Glass in Agathon. It’s all most beautifully done
by Hahn.
CD 2
Classic 1965 Britten meets New York pizzazz in Bernstein’s
Chichester Psalms. The booklet, in common with the other
four issues, is pretty thin on information and certainly no
sign of the sung words. The Songfest is a cycle of 12
poems set for six singers and orchestra. Good to hear this Slatkin-conducted
version from St Louis. This Britten-modelled anthologised structure
ranges from portentous to histrionic. It is also touched with
Copland's traditional queasy-wincey Old American Songs.
There are two lovely - almost Sondheim-style - ballads in the
shape of To My Dear and Loving Husband and Storyette
HM.
Bernstein's Mass has been written about elsewhere on
this site (Chandos;
Naxos).
A Simple Song is beautifully sung by Alan Titus - its
popular sentimental roots show through and do no harm. To close
the disc Marilyn Horne treats us to a group of gentle Bernstein
songs with Martin Katz.
CD 3
This comprises groups of songs from West Side Story,
On the Town, Wonderful Town and Candide.
There's hardly a Latino DNA strand to be heard in the voices
of Larry Kert and Carol Lawrence in Maria and Tonight
but the magic flows like mercury still. Mind you - contrary
to the critical consensus and my own expectations - I also enjoyed
immensely DG's Te Kanawa West Side Story. Before we get
to the 1957-recorded Somewhere ballet we have a bright
2009 America. The 1957 tapes have been very well revived
indeed.
On the Town 1960 recalls the world of Allegro
(wonderfully given new life by Sony in their recent definitive
set) in John Reardon's voice not to mention in those of Comden
and Green. In Some Other Time there 's a real lump in
the throat with the repeated words Oh well, we'll catch up
some other time. I recall that I first heard this extraordinary
and fragile song in that wonderful 1980s radio series Book,
Music And Lyrics from Robert Cushman. There’s not
a dry eye in the house but it’s not sentimental trash.
It’s an irresistible hymn to sentiment with real power
to move. By contrast I found little to like in the wince-making
Wonderful Town.
Candide is a big flouncy piece of Hollywood, complete
with orange blossom, cotton bolls and twirling sun parasols.
It has real glitter and sentiment and delights in the Latino
style in I'm easily assimilated. It ends with Make
Our Garden Grow with what amounts to a touching hymn to
Thoreau’s Walden. It’s not out of place that
the listener may also sense the benevolent shadow or pre-echo
of Copland's The Tender Land.
I had forgotten how powerful is Some Other Time but there
is so much here to be reminded of and to smile about. Interestingly
the sources are predominantly 1950s and 1960s before a degree
of self-importance came into his music. I note that the selection
also avoids the symphonies.
Rob Barnett
See also reviews of the Barber,
Copland, Ives
and Williams sets.
Tracklisting
CD 1 63:33
Overture to Candide, for orchestra 4:12
New York Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein
Symphonic Dances (9) from "West Side Story", for orchestra (orchestrated
with Ramin & Kostal) 25:40
New York Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein
Prelude, Fugue & Riffs, for clarinet & jazz ensemble
7:50
Benny Goodman (Clarinet) NYPO Leonard Bernstein
Serenade (after Plato: Symposium), for violin, harp, percussion
& strings 30:29
Hilary Hahn (Violin) Baltimore Symphony Orchestra David Zinman
CD 2 68:38
Chichester Psalms, for boy soloist, chorus & orchestra 18:25
Camerata Singers (Choir, Chorus), John Bogart (Alto (Vocals)),
New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein
Songfest, song cycle for 6 singers & orchestra or piano
- (Opening Hymn. To the Poem) 39:47
John Cheek (Bass), Linda Hohenfeld (Soprano), Patricia Spence
(Mezzo-Soprano), Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra),
Vernon Hartman (Baritone), Walter Plante (Tenor), Wendy White
(Mezzo-Soprano) Leonard Slatkin
Mass, theatre piece for singers, players & dancers - (Hymn
and Psalm: A Simple Song) 4:45
Alan Titus (Baritone), Berkshire Boy Choir (Boy's Choir), Norman
Scribner (Choir, Chorus), Norman Scribner Choir (Choir, Chorus)
Leonard Bernstein
Arias & Barcarolles (7 of 9 songs in this set are by Bernstein),
for mezzo-soprano, baritone, strings & percussion (or piano
duet) - (Nachspiel)
Marilyn Horne (Mezzo-Soprano), Martin Katz (Vocals), Martin
Katz (Piano) 2:05
Arias & Barcarolles (7 of 9 songs in this set are by Bernstein),
for mezzo-soprano, baritone, strings & percussion (or piano
duet) - (Dream with Me) 3:32
CD 3 6347
West Side Story, musical - (Maria) 2:39
Carol Lawrence (Vocals), Jennifer Sanchez (Vocals), Karen Olivo
(Vocals), Larry Kert (Vocals), Reri Grist (Vocals), Shark Girls
(Vocals)
Max Goberman, Patrick Vaccariello
West Side Story, musical - (Tonight) 3:56
Carol Lawrence (Vocals), Jennifer Sanchez (Vocals), Karen Olivo
(Vocals), Larry Kert (Vocals), Reri Grist (Vocals), Shark Girls
(Vocals)
Conductor: Max Goberman, Patrick Vaccariello
West Side Story, musical - (America) 4:43
Carol Lawrence (Vocals), Jennifer Sanchez (Vocals), Karen Olivo
(Vocals), Larry Kert (Vocals), Reri Grist (Vocals), Shark Girls
(Vocals)
Max Goberman, Patrick Vaccariello
(Somewhere (Ballet)) 7:35
On the Town, musical - (Lonely Town) 6:44
On the Town, musical - (Lucky to Be Me) 2:55
Adolph Green (Vocals), Betty Comden (Vocals), Cris Alexander
(Vocals), John Reardon (Vocals), Nancy Walker (Vocals) Leonard
Bernstein
Wonderful Town, musical in 2 acts - (Ohio) 2:54
(A Little Bit in Love) 1:37
(A Quiet Girl) 2:23
(Conga!) 3:23
Jacquelyn McKeever (Vocals), Rosalind Russell (Vocals), Sydney
Chaplin (Vocals)
Conductor: Lehman Engel
Candide, operetta in 2 acts (Chelsea version) - (Paris Waltz)
1:37
Barbara Cook (Vocals), Irra Petina (Vocals), Max Adrian (Vocals),
Norman Roland (Vocals), Robert Mesrobian (Vocals), Robert Rounseville
(Vocals), William Chapman (Vocals)
Candide, operetta in 2 acts (Chelsea version) - (The Best of
All Possible Worlds) 3:23
Candide, operetta in 2 acts (Chelsea version) - (It Must be
So) 1:52
Candide, operetta in 2 acts (Chelsea version) - (Glitter and
Be Gay) 5:44
Candide, operetta in 2 acts (Chelsea version) - (I'm Easily
Assimilated) 3:33
Candide, operetta in 2 acts (Chelsea version) - (Make Our Garden
Grow) 4:16
SONY 88697 71772 2 [195:33] 
