[ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD ]
Release Date: Thursday 10 May 2018
This item is currently out of stock. It may take 6 or more weeks to obtain from when you place your order as this is a specialist product.
1944 saw the premiere of the ballet Fancy Free, 25-year old Leonard Bernstein's first major composition as well as the first in a string of scores for the stage and film. In order to celebrate the centennial of Bernstein's birth in 1918, Christian Lindberg has gathered music from five different productions spanning a period of 13 years - from Fancy Free to the iconic musical West Side Story, premiered in 1957. The disc is bookended by the sparkling and witty Overture to Candide and Three Dance Episodes from the musical On the Town.
Also included is the substantial Symphonic Suite from 'On the Waterfront', developed by Bernstein from the score he wrote for Elia Kazan's classic film. The drama of this tale of love and betrayal set amid the docks of Hoboken in New Jersey is brought out by Bernstein's music, which seethes with dramatic tension. Making its first appearance on BIS in these flamboyant and life-enhancing scores, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra clearly relishes the opportunity to let its collective hair down. The players are egged on by Lindberg, known for his ability to energize both orchestras and audiences.
MusicWeb International
Make no mistake, this newcomer will get your toes tapping...every bit as memorable as it is under the composer himself…so, who's it to be - Lenny or Lindberg? Frankly, I'd want both
The Observer 29th April 2018
A spirited survey...A reason to choose this over another Bernstein compilation - though the crisp, taut playing of the RLPO is cause enough - is the inclusion of the symphonic suite from On the Waterfront
Pizzicato
Highly energetic and colorful Bernstein program, performed with an amazing playfulness.
Record Review
Lindberg and Liverpool Philharmonic capturing the menace of Bernsteins soundscape with some excellent playing on this vivid recording…a lovely affectionate swing through the dances...Lindberg and Liverpool Philharmonic bring another dimension, a clear, slightly more classical approach which I think pays dividends……on the Waterfront is the highlight of this fine recording on the BIS label.
01 Overture to Candide (1956) 4'28
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story (1957) 22'41
02 Prologue 4'20
03 Somewhere 4'01
04 Scherzo 1'24
05 Mambo 2'17
06 Cha-Cha 1'01
07 Meeting Scene 0'43
08 Cool 3'50
09 Rumble 2'03
10 Finale 3'02
Three Dance Variations from Fancy Free (1944) 7'05
11 Variation 1 (Galop) 1'28
12 Variation 2 (Waltz) 2'40
13 Variation 3 (Danzon) 2'57
On the Waterfront (1954) Symphonic Suite from the Film 17'41
14 Andante - Presto barbaro 2'41
15 Adagio - Allegro molto agitato 2'10
16 Andante largamente 4'13
17 Moving forward, with warmth 3'56
18 Allegro non troppo, molto marcato 2'27
19 A tempo 2'14
Three Dance Episodes from On the Town (1946) 10'24
20 I. The Great Lover 1'53
21 II. Lonely Town: Pas de deux 3'01
22 III. Times Square: 1944 5'30
Album total 62'30