Bernstein: Arias and Barcarolles

Bernstein (Artist), Von Stade (Artist), Hampson (Artist), Thomas (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 23, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GMC
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #342,906 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #43 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Von Stade, Frederica

Track Listings

1. Arias and Barcarolles: Prelude

2. Arias and Barcarolles: Love Duet

3. Arias and Barcarolles: Little Smary

4. Arias and Barcarolles: The Love Of My Life

5. Arias and Barcarolles: Greeting

6. Arias and Barcarolles: Oif Mayn Khas'neh

7. Arias and Barcarolles: Mr. And Mrs. Webb Say Goodnight

8. Arias and Barcarolles: Nachspiel (Postlude)

9. Suite from 'A Quiet Place': Prologue

10. Suite from 'A Quiet Place': Sam's Aria

11. Suite from 'A Quiet Place': Trio

12. Suite from 'A Quiet Place': Jazz Trio ('Mornin' Sun')

13. Suite from 'A Quiet Place': Chorale

14. Suite from 'A Quiet Place': Postlude to Act I

15. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story': Prologue - Allegro moderato

16. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story': 'Somewhere': Adagio

17. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story': Scherzo: Vivace leggiero

18. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story': Mambo: Presto

19. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story': Cha-Cha Andantino con grazia

20. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story': Meeting Scene: Meno mosso

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating examples of Bernstein's later work, January 26, 2000

By 

"path31783" (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bernstein: Arias and Barcarolles (Audio CD)

Arias and Barcarolles was one of Leonard Bernstein's last compositions; in fact, he fiddled with it for much of the last years of his life. A series of loosely connected musical vignettes, it is a fascinating exploration of dark, atonal music he hinted at constantly in all of his earlier work. Fascinating it is, but i cant really say its very enjoyable to listen to. The Love Duet, a fantastically existential song, is a real gem, and Little Smary and Mr. and Mrs. Webb Say Goodnight are also wonderful pieces, made all the better by the performances of Von Stade and Hampson. However, like all atonal music, other tracks get grating, and are worth listening to only as curiosities. The A Quiet Place Suite is another matter. The opera was a late expansion of Trouble in Tahiti, one of his best early pieces; it is labored in the extreme. (Stephen Sondheim once said of this opera that Bernstein had a bad case of "important-itis.") The only passages with any distinction are the ones from the earlier work. Also, this suite is a poorly orchestrated representation of the full score. Then the symphonic dances . . . it is painfully obvious that Bernstein didnt conduct this one. The tempos are all over the map, and the miking is terrible (in the Mambo, the tam-tams overpower the brass section at certain points.) The suite in the reisuue of the original score is far better. All in all, this CD is a valuable one to have; although not very enjoyable, it is very very interesting.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The fundamental things apply as time goes by........, March 26, 2002

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bernstein: Arias and Barcarolles (Audio CD)

Leonard Bernstein was a legend in his own time and the music world is less for his absence. But here is a chance to sample the spectrum of this 20th century wonder. From the uncommonly American sound of West Side Story (Symphonic Dances) to the gentle, brooding introspection of Arias and Barcarolles not unlike this composer's mentor Gustav Mahler, we have on one CD a taste of why Bernstein will live beyond his lifetime. Gratefully these works are performed by consummate artists: Michael Tilson Thomas, Frederica von Stade, Thomas Hampson, London Symphony Orchestra. Add this mixture of late life esoterica and prime life showmanship to your collection of Bernstein's many recordings of the symphonic literature and you'll have a glimpse of the fundamental things........