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Related Items:
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Related Items:

• Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris
• Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO
• Bernstein: Symphony No. 3 ("Kaddish"); Chichester Psalms
• Bernstein: Candide; West Side Story; On the Waterfront; Fancy Free
• Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Three Dance Episodes from On The Town; Candide (Selections)
• see more

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Disc 1:

1. Prologue. Allegro moderato
2. 'Somewhere.' Adagio
3. Scherzo. Vivace leggiero
4. Mambo. Presto
5. Cha-Cha ('Maria'). Andantino con grazia
6. Meeting Scene. Meno mosso
7. 'Cool' Fugue. Allegretto
8. Rumble. Molto allegro
9. Finale. Adagio
10. Andante (with dignity) - Presto barbaro
11. Adagio - Allegro molto agitato - Alla breve (Poco più mosso) - Presto come prima
12. Andante largamente - More flowing - Still more flowing - Poco meno mosso - Lento
13. Moving forward, with warmth - Largamente - a tempo - Calmato - Andante come prima - sempre avanti,
14. Allegro non troppo, molto marcato - Poco più sostenuto - Moving forward - Meno mosso
15. a tempo
16. 1. Enter three Sailors
17. 2. Scene at the Bar
18. 3. Enter two Girls
19. 4. Pas de deux
20. 5. Competition Scene
21. 6. Three Dance Variations. Variation 1 (Galop)
22. 6. Three Dance Variations. Variation 2 (Waltz)
23. 6. Three Dance Variations. Variation 3 (Danzon)
24. 7. Finale
25. 1. The Great Lover
26. 2. Lonely Town: Pas de Deux
27. 3. Times Square: 1944

Rating: - Theme Music for the 20th Century
I bought this CD for this particular (remastered) performance of the Candide Overture, but the total number of tracks makes this a great value. Excellent representation of Bernstein, a New York style and era where classical and jazz intersected. If mid-20th Century America were a movie, Bernstein, Gershwin and Copland would be the theme music.

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Rating: - An essential benchmark disk
The previous reviewer's five stars is not an exaggeration. This is of course a definitive view by the composer of his own iconic masterpieces. Bernstein was not a truly great composer when he was writing purely "classical forms" like symphonies. But give him a program for a ballet or film and he really is up there with the all time greats. His best is not up to "Le Sacre" or "Firebird" but is as good as almost any other 20th century competitor. This disk, old as the masters are, is very good-sounding. I do suspect residual volume compression. The performances are indeed exciting.

One note: the whole disk ends with a wimper ... quite bizarre. Be sure to play the first track last.

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Rating: - Bernstein Has Never Sounded Better
This is a fantastic CD, featuring film and theater music composed by the American legend, Leonard Bernstein. The recordings were made with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of the composer, from 1960 to 1963. It opens with the "Overture to Candide" (and what an opening!). The sound is so good that you cannot tell it was recorded almost fifty years ago. The brass instruments are blaring, the percussion knocks your socks off, and the strings and woodwinds have a most realistic presence. Bernstein's account of the Symphonic Suite from "West Side Story" has never sounded better. The NYPO truly captures the excitement and rhythm of these short, and unforgettable pieces.

Bernstein's only film score was for Elia Kazan's Academy Award winning, 1954 blockbuster, "On the Waterfront." This soundtrack, however, is quite different from others. It can stand independent from film and be a concert piece - this is truly marvelous music. The CD closes with Bernstein's ballet, "Fancy Free", and three bonus tracks from "On the Town." All in all, the music is classically American, and pure Bernstein. Sonically, the recording is one of the best in my collection - highly recommendable.