Benny Goodman Collector's Edition

Leonard Bernstein (Composer), Aaron Copland (Composer), Igor Stravinsky (Composer), Morton Gould (Composer), Bela Bartok (Composer), Columbia Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Béla Bartók (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Béla Bartók
• Orchestra: Columbia Symphony Orchestra
• Composer: Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Igor Stravinsky, Morton Gould, Bela Bartok
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000026F3
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,002 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #48 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Reeds & Winds > Clarinet

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Cup of Tea, May 21, 2002

By 

T. Beers (Arlington, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Benny Goodman Collector's Edition (Audio CD)

Goodman's performances of all the music on this disc are superb. He (along with violinist Joseph Szigeti) commissioned the Bartok score and, notwithstanding its age (mono/1940) there has never been a better recording than this one. The other performances are first-rate stereo recordings that appeared on a 1966 CBS/Columbia Lp titled "Meeting at the Summit." Morton Gould's music often sounds like watered-down Copland to my ears, but "Derivations" is a really strong piece and quite memorable. The Stravinsky is a true masterpiece that has never sounded better, and the same goes for Bernstein's powerfully imagined, joyous "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs." Having the composers conduct was an inspired idea (in the case of the Bartok, the composer accompanies at the piano); not at all gimmicky. It's amazing how well Goodman still played in the middle '60s. Although he gave solid performances well into the '70s, he was still at or near his peak when these recordings were made and the dead-on intonation and range of color in his playing is simply breathtaking. The other reviewer mostly likes the Copland score. It's nice, but the real show-stopper here is the Bernstein: 7 1/2 minutes of sheer big-band bravado. Not to be missed!

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get it for the Copland, October 9, 2001

By 

A. G. Bailey "Dadge" (Birmingham, - United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Benny Goodman Collector's Edition (Audio CD)

Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto is one of the most magical pieces of music ever to come out of North America, and for me, this is *the* recording. Fifty years old, but as is so often the case, the original is the best - Mr Goodman's finest twenty minutes. Great value, too! The other pieces (by Bernstein, Stravinsky and Bartok) I can take or leave, but who knows, they might be your cup of tea.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Landmark Recording, April 29, 2010

By 

Althea Waites-Hayes - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Benny Goodman Collector's Edition (Audio CD)

This Collector's Edition CD should be an essential item for classical music lovers. I also think that it's most important for people to know that Benny Goodman was recognized not only for his brilliant work as a jazz clarinetist,but also for classical works which were written for and dedicated to him by leading composers of the 2oth century such as Bela Bartok and Aaron Copland.
This is an excellent recording that I would highly recommend.