Ludwig van Beethoven Leonard Bernstein New York Philharmonic - Beethoven Violin Concerto Leonore Overture No 3 (5 tracks) +Album Reviews

Beethoven, Bernstein, Stern & 2 Overtures: Magnificent

Dr. Alan D. Kardoff | Palm Bay, FL USA | 08/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a magnificent CD. I hadn't heard a Sony Royal Edition work in a long time. Bernstein collaborates with Isaac Stern in Beethoven's Violin Concerto. One can hear "Bravos" echoed throughout the recording chamber. This performance is one befitting of HRH The Price of Wales. The concerto is so rewarding and beautifully performed. Most would relish hearing it again and again alone. But, there is more. Bernstein proudly and near-perfectly gets the NYPO to perform "The Consecration of the House" and "Leonore III" overtures. This CD has a full beautiful concerto presented plus two overtures performed. The timing is 67.14 minutes. One can put the CD on continuous play and get new meaning with each repeat or maybe just focus in on a single element. I had forgotten the value and purposes of The Royal Edition. This is Volume 10 of 100. The CDs are remastered with artistic genius. The clarity and brilliance in sound is so present that this particular CD makes Sony look good.I will not break down the movements in the concerto. Maestro Stern is very familiar with Beethoven. He has collaborated with Maestro Bernstein and the NYPO on many occasions. The performance is completely in synch and harmony. While my preference of overtures on this CD may be "The Consecration," this is a 51/49 flip-a-coin call. I can't praise this music enough. It is classical at its best. Beethoven, Bernstein and Stern. The words fit so well. This CD defines synergy. I bought my copy of the CD on an auction because seeing a CD with the three names stirred me to action. I would have bid anything. Those wanting to acquire some excellent CDs at reasonable prices should turn to Amazon, Ebay, Yahoo et. al.My only surprise is having the priviledge to be the first reviewer of this CD. I won't be the last. Alan>Mgmtdr"

One Of The Stellar Reissues In Sony's Bernstein Tribute

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 12/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Much applause should be given to Sony for reissuing this classic recording of violinist Isaac Stern, Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic performing Beethoven's violin concerto. Stern's performance is absolutely immaculate, almost as fine as the classic Deutsche Grammophon recording of violinist Schneiderhan with Eugen Jochum conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. It's replete with brilliant technical pyrotechnics and lyrical playing. Bernstein is an intriguing, if occasionally, quixotic, partner, not quite matching Stern's tempi, yet still the New York Philharmonic yields a fine performance. The two Beethoven overtures are exquisitely performed by the New York Philharmonic. Unfortunately, the sound is a bit dry, and not nearly as warm as the Schneiderhan/Jochum recording for all three of Beethoven's works. Yet these minor flaws shouldn't detract from Stern's splendid playing."

A medium-good performance in wretched sound

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/16/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When the Beethoven concerto ends and we move on to the 'Consecration of the House Over.', it's startling to hear the difference in recorded sound. I almost never exclude a performance because of sonics alone (I'd have to throw out all my Toscaninis and Furtwanglers), but as a reviewer below says, Columbia's 1959 sonics are "hissy, fizzy, and close up." Once we get to the two overtures, however, the sound is good analog.

I got no pleasure from Stern's wiry, shrill violin (as recorded), but his interpretation, abetted by Bernstein's slow and surprisingly slack tempos, isn't remarkable, either. Stern's tone is unvaried, he doesn't seek out interesting phrasing, and there's no personal point of view: Each bar follows another. The slow movement drags to the point that Bernstein can't sustain the line. The finale is taken at more or less normal speed and comes off best in this reading. The two overtures are exceptionally well done, on the other hand, with plenty of passion and energy, the things we expect form Bernstein.

These are favorite artists of mine--not to mention being the most famous conductor and violinist in America at the time--and it's a shame they didn't join up later for a remake"

Wonderful Stern; peculiar Bernstein

John Grabowski | USA | 05/15/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of those performances where Leonard Bernstein turns in a quirky reading that seems designed more to draw attention to him than to the music. Most perplexing of all is why he holds the three-beat rest in the first movement's tutti *three-and-a-half* beats. Aside from that, he seems determined to "increase the drama" through pulling the beat, so that Stern finds himself ahead frequently in the first and second movements. The great violinist does not wait for his partner. There are also some heavy orchestral balances--many conductors strive for clarity in this score but Lenny goes for the dramatic approach (suprise). How well it works will depend on your taste. I don't dislike it, but wouldn't want to hear my Beethoven Violin Concerto this way all the time.

Stern, meanwhile, is wonderful. His handling of the cadenzas is jaw-dropping, even if it's evident, under the scruitiny of headphones, that they're pieced together from several takes. He plays the fiendishly difficult cadenzas by Fritz Kreisler that many violinists don't even attempt to tackle, and he blows through them like they're the easiest thing in the world. All the while he has this majestic tone that was one of the best ever (and I do mean "was" if you've heard him recently). There's something about his soulful, yearning quality that makes me think of the human voice, and makes so many of today's technically-endowed violinists sound cold by comparison.

Sony has done a good job restoring the sound, which in past incarnations was hissy, fuzzy and up-close. It still isn't up there with modern digital standards, but it's far better than it used to be. All in all, recommended, especially for the price and the two spirited overtures you get as bonus. (The Leonore No. 3 has to be heard to be believe--Lenny smokes it! The tender sections are suitably tender, however, and the open brims with mystery and portent. Just listen to those strings. Only the offstage trumpet disappoints--it's flat.)

There are by way of contrast some other Beethoven VCs you should check out, however, one of my favorites--possibly my all-time favorite--being Menuhin/Furtwangler live (Music & Arts), which is far superior to their studio disc on EMI. Be warned, though: the Music & Arts recording does not have great sound.

"

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	Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Leonore Overture No. 3 Genre: Classical Track Listings (5) - Disc #1 Allegro ma non troppo Larghetto Rondo, Allegro Die Weihe des Hauses (Consecration of the House), overture for orchestr Leonore Overture No. 3 in C major, Op. 72b
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