Bernstein: Candide; Barber: Adagio; other American masterpieces

Louis Lane, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, New York Philharmonic, Andre Kostelanetz The Cleveland Pops Orchestra (Artist), Leonard Bernstein (Composer), Charles Ives (Composer), William Schuman (Composer), Samuel Barber (Composer), Morton Gould (Composer), Charles Tomlinson Griffes (Composer), Edward MacDowell (Composer), George Gershwin (Composer), Hershy Kay (Composer), Arthur Benjamin (Composer), Richard Rodgers (Composer), Virgil Thomson (Composer), Louis Lane (Conductor), Eugene Ormandy (Conductor), André Kostelanetz (Conductor), Cleveland Pops Orchestra (Orchestra), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra), André Kostelanetz Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, André Kostelanetz Orchestra
• Conductor: Louis Lane, Eugene Ormandy, André Kostelanetz
• Composer: Leonard Bernstein, Charles Ives, William Schuman, Samuel Barber, Morton Gould, et al.
• Audio CD (May 18, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony Classical
• ASIN: B0000029WJ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,034 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #37 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Ives, Charles

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Performance of Schuman!, September 17, 2000

By 

Leonard J. Raham (East Hampton, CT. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bernstein: Candide; Barber: Adagio; other American masterpieces (Audio CD)

I must agree with the previous reviewer, that "American Masterpieces" comprises a very thoughtful collection yet suffers slightly from poor interpretation of certain pieces. But the presence alone of the classic performance of William Schuman's "New England Triptych" by Andre Kostelanetz and the New York Philharmonic makes this compilation all worth it. I have looked forward for this particular version of Schuman's work to be released on compact disc for several years, in the meantime not being entirely satisfied with other versions that have circulated, i.e. Howard Hanson/the Eastman-Rochester Orchestra on the Mercury Living Presence label, -very poorly executed with an off-key, off-timed horn in the first movement, or the version on the RCA label by Leonard Slatkin and the St.Louis Symph.Orch. which is very well done, yet to my ear still does not compare to the depth and lively energy with which Kostelanetz and the New York Philharmonic presents this work.

I was disappointed with the manner with which the first two pieces by Berstein and Ives were conducted. The "Candide Orchestra" lacked the sensitivity of the performance by Lukas Foss /Milwaukee SO on the Pro Arte label, while Slatkin does a much better job with the Ives piece for RCA.

But the remainder of colorful material following Schuman on this CD - even with the overdone "Adagio for Strings" by Barber - makes for a very rewarding listening experience, with the only disappointing exception of the third piece ( "A Narrative") curiously missing from Virgil Thomson's "Acadian Songs and Dances", yet present on an old scratchy, mono LP that I have on the Decca label (Thomas Scherman /the Little Orchestra Society). Did Thomson later revise this suite? Or did this CD run out of space? If the latter is true, one can only wish that Barber's overplayed "Adagio" would have been bumped to make room for the entirety of Thomson's superb "Acadian Songs".

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars American Masterpieces - For pleasure or music ed. resource, July 27, 2000

By 

Erica Whitman Davis (Long Island, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bernstein: Candide; Barber: Adagio; other American masterpieces (Audio CD)

The American Masterpieces CD is an excellent compilation of music that is uniquely American. Much of the material is based on folk sources, and all of it is thoughtfully selected. The only negative is that some of the music is not the best version available, but I'm sure that's due to the limitations of the Sony label. The "Adagio for Strings," for example, is taken at a slightly fast tempo, lessening the dramatic impact of the build-up. The selections are a music educator's delight. Bernstein's "Candide Overture" is perfection. Ives' "Variations on America" is a wonderful study in the use of a familiar theme in an unusual manner. "When Jesus Wept" can be sung by a chorus and then compared with Schuman's treatment. Gould's "American Salute" is an exciting study in theme and variations on the familiar tune, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." And, of course, Gershwin's "Promenade" is delightful, and an excellent follow-up for the Fantasia 2000 film. The reason I bought the recording was for the Gottschalk "Grand Walkaround" and "Jamaican Rumba" by Benjamin. Both are based on American folk materials (Sweet Potatoes - Louisiana, and Mango Walk, respectively). The original songs can be sung, compared, performed in an Orff arrangement, and then presented in the orchestral interpretations. The folk songs are both found in the McGraw Hill music series, Share the Music, Grade 5. If you like this CD, try the American Salute CD from Musical Heritage Society.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American Masterpieces, March 6, 2008

By 

Sally (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bernstein: Candide; Barber: Adagio; other American masterpieces (Audio CD)

Beautifully conducted and performed. Some of the pieces were not as exciting as I had hoped but that is the listeners fault since I was unfamiliar with some of the pieces and they will grow on me. Still I would buy it again just for the Barber,Bernstein and Rodgers pieces.