|
|
 |
 |
[Click To Enlarge]
Email A Friend - Gift Reminder |
Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris
Availability:
In Stock
Price:
$7.99
$5.34*
|
| Part No: | B0000025MH |
| Manufacturer: | Sony |
| MFG Part: | 37242 |
| Customer Rating: | 5.0 / 5.0 |
|
|
No description currently exists for this item.
| Another Bernstein American Classical treasure | 2010-02-28 | 5 / 5 |
| Just a few comments to add to the other fine reviews here.
I have two other versions of these works, but these recordings are by far, the best I own. With today's modern recording technology, it is so easy to overlook these "bargain" recordings and forget Leonard Bernstein was one of the greatest conductor/interpreters of modern classical music ever to pick up a baton. While some recordings from this era lack clarity and "digital punch", this CD doesn't suffer from that problem. Even if it did, it 1000 times makes up for in interpretation, musicianship, and vitality. This arrangement is the concert arrangement, and Bernstein makes us feel like we are listening to a world premier with excitement and genius channeling Gershwin's creativity and imagination straight to your speakers or headphones. It really is magic.
The imaging and spaciousness of the stereo sound stage is also quite impressive.
As another review pointed out, there are better compilation deals - Later releases package these works with Ferde Grofé's Grand Canyon Suite. Whatever - just make sure you own these performances. For another completely different take on the Rhapsody in Blue, likened to an "original period instrument" version, pick up Michael Tilson Thomas Performs and Conducts Gershwin.
Recommend Bernstein's Copland recordings (Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO), his own Candide (Bernstein Conducts Candide), and his legendary take with the New York Philharmonic on Shostakovich Symphony # 5 (Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 9). |
| Rhapsody in blue | 2009-10-11 | 5 / 5 |
| | I first heard Leonard Bernstein's version of Rahpsody in Blue in the early 1960s, on a 7" vinyl record. It has remained my favourite ever since. This digital issue on a CD is excellent. Nothing has been lost in the transition from analogue to digital recording, and it is every bit as enjoyable now as it was when I first heard it forty-five years ago. |
| Aren't we fortunate? | 2009-09-20 | 5 / 5 |
| Aren't we fortunate to have lived in an age with two incredible geniuses?
Of course I am talking about Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin.
If you are too young to be familiar with either of them, I urge you to get
to know them now that we are lucky enough to have their works available on CD, DVD, etc.
On Christmas Day 1989 Lenny conducted a group of musicians from all over the
world in 2 performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The Berlin Wall had
just come down and this was his tribute to freedom.
Available on DVD it is truly overwhelming, I guess even more so since Lenny
would be dead before the year 1990 was out. Oh, how I miss him.
He also did a marvelous series of Young People's Concerts beginning in 1958
which I got from - where else? - and donated to a school where my
oldest grand daughter teaches. The previous year I had donated a book on
Fractals and a DVD and her students enjoyed learning - also from .
I tell you these because if you want to help educate our children it is so
easy just to order something, preferaby but not necessarily, from .
Louella E Rehfield |
| Great Gershwin, but too seriuos for me | 2009-08-08 | 4 / 5 |
| Gershwin is a one-of-a kind of composer. He decided to mix classical music with jazz to form the style "jazzical", as I call it. This jazzical style takes the edge off serious classical music and tosses in the fun aspect of jazz. In this recording with the great Leonard Bernstein, we hear Gershwin's most famous orchestral pieces: Rhapsody In Blue & An American In Paris. These two recordings are finely polished and are great recordings, don't get me wrong, but I thought that they were just too serious. Both of these songs are slow, slower than Arthur Fiedler's recording, and sound too serious. Fiedler's recordings are faster, more up-beat, and just sound fun. With this disc, Bernstein conducts the orchestra and also plays the piano in the Rhapsody. When there are the piano solos, Bernstein keeps the same tempo, slow, and doesn't make it fun. With the Fiedler recording, Earl Wild is the pianist, and in the piano solos makes the tempo "rubato", where you speed up and slow down-you don't keep the same tempo. Another thing is that in Rhapsody In Blue, there are extra parts - one where there is a saxophone section solo, and another part where it focuses on the bassoon and oboe. These are featured in the Fiedler recording, but not in the Bernstein. Those "missing parts" have jazz influence in them and really make the piece have a jazz side. That's missing in this disc-the fun, jazz side. An American in Paris is pretty much the same on both of these discs. There's no missing parts or anything, just that Bernstein takes it much slower than Fiedler. So in conclusion, there is nothing "wrong" with buying this disc, it's just that if you want a recording that sounds more fun, go with the Fiedler/Wild recording. If you want the more serious, refined recording, than buy this one. The only question is-Which one do you want?
Here's the Fiedler/Wild Cd - Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue |
| The Definitive Performance | 2009-06-01 | 5 / 5 |
| | This is the definitive performance of these great American classics. Both technically and creatively, this recording sets the standard. |
* Current Price/Avail/Qty displayed on website may be delayed by up to 24 hours. Items added to cart and into the checkout process will reflect current price and status of product. |
|
 |
|
)
