Leonard Bernstein passed away in 1990. Thanks to the unrelenting efforts of his estate, the record companies and others, his reputation has been granted nary a nanosecond to suffer any posthumous dip.
Deutsche Grammophon is doing its best to keep Bernstein’s recorded legacy in our ears, minds and CD players by reissuing many of his live and studio performances from the 1980s in a quintet of “Collectors Edition” boxed sets. Each album is grouped around a particular composer or group of composers: Haydn, Sibelius, Beethoven and Brahms each receives omnibus treatment. Of the lot, this new six-disc set of American works is especially collectible.
Chronologically, the repertory ranges from Charles Ives (Symphony No. 2 and six shorter pieces) to David Del Tredici (“Tattoo”) and Ned Rorem (Violin Concerto, with Gidon Kremer as soloist). In between you’ll find Bernstein’s evergreen recordings of the third symphonies by American music’s Big Three — Aaron Copland, Roy Harris and William Schuman. Back also are Bernstein the pianist’s laid-back treatment of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and a worthy survey of Coplandiana, including such favorites as “Appalachian Spring” and such rarities as the gritty “Connotations.”
A worthwhile bonus is a previously unreleased recording of Lukas Foss’ lovely biblical cantata, “The Song of Songs,” taped in a concert Bernstein conducted with the Israel Philharmonic in Paris in 1986. Lenny’s re-creative gift — his ability to channel the spirits of the composers he conducted with a loving fervor that communicated directly with every listener, even if only across a flickering TV screen — was unique. These sets, particularly “The Americans,” remind us of that great gift.
