You already know I agree with you about the film. I might get around to writing about it. Here, as always, I'm in awe at the depth and breadth of your musical knowledge. The world of musical scholarship will always have reason to regret losing you to literature. As a New Yorker of a certain age, I grew up with Bernstein, the Young People's Concerts on TV, the musical theater, his towering, glamorous reputation a feature of the city's life, including his presence beyond the world of music, as Tom Wolfe's famous "Radical Chic" essay captured. The film was a must. I'm glad now to have your guide to a refreshed listen to the music.
I neglected to mention when speaking of Bernstein and New York the fame of his apartments, particularly the one at the Dakota, and then I read the following on the treadmill in the gym, about recreating it, followed by the Reporter article about his learning conducting. (I'm always a little dubious of such a claim.)
Thanks for the link. Yes, those Young People’s Concerts were great; you can watch some of them on YouTube--he was such an educator. It’s hard to imagine a conductor being such a prominent public figure these days.
I love that an 11-hour playlist only scratches the surface of this discography!
I'm seeing Maestro tonight, and can't wait. I’ve revered him since I was a teenager — and I don't think classical music has had a more passionate ambassador than Lenny.
One rub I have with his recordings is that I've never been a fan of the NY Phil’s sound under any conductor. I find their strings to be too brittle compared to the pillowy warmth of the Berlin and Vienna Phils. With that said, his late-70s recording of Shostakovich 5 changed my life in college and was my entry point into the composer’s tortured world.
Other favorites are the live recording of Shostakovich 7 with Chicago (how did that performance not cause seismic activity in the city?), his Mahler 6 with Vienna (and the infamous reinstatement of the third hammer blow), and the Song of the Earth with Christa Ludwig and the Israel Philharmonic. And I absolutely agree with you that his Sibelius is underrated!
I know what you mean about the NY Phil’s strings, though I kind of like their sharp scruffiness--depending on my mood. And yes, that Shostakovich 7th is amazing, and the Vienna Mahler 6 is terrifying. I haven’t listened to that Song of the Earth recording, or at least it’s been a long time. I’ll have to revisit it.
There's a fabulous video of that performance of Song of the Earth on YouTube. Even more fabulous is this clip of one rehearsal where Lenny and Christa were not seeing eye to eye about a tempo in the fourth movement:
What a list! I have loved classical music since my grandmother took me to a chamber concert once, just the two of us. I had never heard any thing like it before. I love watching composers work, but I have never learned their oeuvres, so I appreciate your recs. Do you know Craig Courtney’s A Musicological Journey through Christmas? I heard it for the first time this month and was in stitches from the opening chant: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ryp8MTtznvU
I had the chance to sing Chichester Psalms in choir, a difficult piece, especially for one with no experience of Hebrew. But very moving, I’ve never forgotten it
The film Maestro is a triumph! It really turned me on to Bernstein's music, which I have to admit to knowing little about. I'm going to actively seek out some of his work now and your playlist looks like the perfect way to start. Thank you for sharing.
John - jazz is my favorite genre but I love classical music as well, largely in part to my grandmother who ensured us kids were exposed to it. I am going to add these to my Spotify rotation. Thanks for the recommendations.
Thanks, Matthew! I hope you enjoy the recordings. I’m a jazz lover as well, and my grandmother was also a classical music enthusiast. She grew up in the days when Toscanini and the other great conductors were regularly on the radio, with large national audiences. Hard to imagine these days....
I wasn't going to watch the film. Now I will. Thank you for the recommendation and the suggestions for classical music. I do like classical music and know almost zero about it. I listen to all kinds of music. I'm versed enough in CM to describe what I like and why I don't like most classical music. I'll give it a stab. I don't like the bombastic, let's invade Poland, kind I mostly hear played on the radio. I like the more Baroque(?) kind? Maybe it's modern stuff I don't like? Anyway. Great piece. And, BTW, I'd have stepped over bodies to get a Van Halen poster. Happy New Year!
I've never taken to classical music and I attribute that lack to ignorance and to growing up with the amazing music of the 1970s, which I still favor. My first album was Elton John's Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player. And maybe because the artists I listened to stayed active for so long also kept me in a music bubble. Favorite Bowie album : Hunky Dory.
I love classical music but am no aficionado. Yours is the first good review I’ve heard of the Bernstein movie. I’ll check it out. I miss Bowie. I can imagine the reactions of your peers in college when they saw the Bernstein poster. “Who’s that dude?”
Saving this to properly listen to the playlist!
You’ve inspired me to catch Maestro in the cinema. Cooper is a wonderful artist and filmmaker in my opinion. He works from the inside out.
Long live Ziggy and Lenny in your heart, John!
I hope to hear your thoughts on Maestro!
An excellent list
For those who use Spotify, I made the playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0CCgkJ5OpeZhSEtu3ZG2mI?si=ly5S5whDRHODC4ewf-IRKw
Fantastic! Thanks for doing that!
You already know I agree with you about the film. I might get around to writing about it. Here, as always, I'm in awe at the depth and breadth of your musical knowledge. The world of musical scholarship will always have reason to regret losing you to literature. As a New Yorker of a certain age, I grew up with Bernstein, the Young People's Concerts on TV, the musical theater, his towering, glamorous reputation a feature of the city's life, including his presence beyond the world of music, as Tom Wolfe's famous "Radical Chic" essay captured. The film was a must. I'm glad now to have your guide to a refreshed listen to the music.
I neglected to mention when speaking of Bernstein and New York the fame of his apartments, particularly the one at the Dakota, and then I read the following on the treadmill in the gym, about recreating it, followed by the Reporter article about his learning conducting. (I'm always a little dubious of such a claim.)
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a46167648/maestro-leonard-bernstein-dakota-apartment/
https://bit.ly/3TI07mb
Thanks for the link. Yes, those Young People’s Concerts were great; you can watch some of them on YouTube--he was such an educator. It’s hard to imagine a conductor being such a prominent public figure these days.
I love that an 11-hour playlist only scratches the surface of this discography!
I'm seeing Maestro tonight, and can't wait. I’ve revered him since I was a teenager — and I don't think classical music has had a more passionate ambassador than Lenny.
One rub I have with his recordings is that I've never been a fan of the NY Phil’s sound under any conductor. I find their strings to be too brittle compared to the pillowy warmth of the Berlin and Vienna Phils. With that said, his late-70s recording of Shostakovich 5 changed my life in college and was my entry point into the composer’s tortured world.
Other favorites are the live recording of Shostakovich 7 with Chicago (how did that performance not cause seismic activity in the city?), his Mahler 6 with Vienna (and the infamous reinstatement of the third hammer blow), and the Song of the Earth with Christa Ludwig and the Israel Philharmonic. And I absolutely agree with you that his Sibelius is underrated!
I know what you mean about the NY Phil’s strings, though I kind of like their sharp scruffiness--depending on my mood. And yes, that Shostakovich 7th is amazing, and the Vienna Mahler 6 is terrifying. I haven’t listened to that Song of the Earth recording, or at least it’s been a long time. I’ll have to revisit it.
There's a fabulous video of that performance of Song of the Earth on YouTube. Even more fabulous is this clip of one rehearsal where Lenny and Christa were not seeing eye to eye about a tempo in the fourth movement:
https://youtu.be/f32bhICi-zI?si=GlcC-XNg1K2bp2x0
Christa’s silent poise after Lenny says, “It doesn't matter. Who can hear the words anyway?” Priceless!
What a list! I have loved classical music since my grandmother took me to a chamber concert once, just the two of us. I had never heard any thing like it before. I love watching composers work, but I have never learned their oeuvres, so I appreciate your recs. Do you know Craig Courtney’s A Musicological Journey through Christmas? I heard it for the first time this month and was in stitches from the opening chant: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ryp8MTtznvU
Thanks for the link! Will check it out.
There’s no Bernstein in it, but you’ll recognize other influences. Best enjoyed in the Christmas season.
I had the chance to sing Chichester Psalms in choir, a difficult piece, especially for one with no experience of Hebrew. But very moving, I’ve never forgotten it
Interesting--I bet that is difficult to sing. I’ve sung some Hebrew (music by Bloch), but never the Bernstein.
The film Maestro is a triumph! It really turned me on to Bernstein's music, which I have to admit to knowing little about. I'm going to actively seek out some of his work now and your playlist looks like the perfect way to start. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks! Hope you enjoy the playlist.
John - jazz is my favorite genre but I love classical music as well, largely in part to my grandmother who ensured us kids were exposed to it. I am going to add these to my Spotify rotation. Thanks for the recommendations.
Thanks, Matthew! I hope you enjoy the recordings. I’m a jazz lover as well, and my grandmother was also a classical music enthusiast. She grew up in the days when Toscanini and the other great conductors were regularly on the radio, with large national audiences. Hard to imagine these days....
I didn’t see Rhapsody in Blue, which I’d add. The Mahler 2nd draws a loud “Amen!” and the Stravinsky as well. I’ve worn the vinyl thin on all three.
I wasn't going to watch the film. Now I will. Thank you for the recommendation and the suggestions for classical music. I do like classical music and know almost zero about it. I listen to all kinds of music. I'm versed enough in CM to describe what I like and why I don't like most classical music. I'll give it a stab. I don't like the bombastic, let's invade Poland, kind I mostly hear played on the radio. I like the more Baroque(?) kind? Maybe it's modern stuff I don't like? Anyway. Great piece. And, BTW, I'd have stepped over bodies to get a Van Halen poster. Happy New Year!
Ha! Even the Sammy Hagar iteration?
Oh, heavens no
I've never taken to classical music and I attribute that lack to ignorance and to growing up with the amazing music of the 1970s, which I still favor. My first album was Elton John's Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player. And maybe because the artists I listened to stayed active for so long also kept me in a music bubble. Favorite Bowie album : Hunky Dory.
Hunky Dory is a favorite of mine as well--top 5!
I love classical music but am no aficionado. Yours is the first good review I’ve heard of the Bernstein movie. I’ll check it out. I miss Bowie. I can imagine the reactions of your peers in college when they saw the Bernstein poster. “Who’s that dude?”
Ha! Actually, a bunch of my friends were music majors, but most people on my hall were somewhat baffled.