Customer Reviews

Bernstein Century: American Masters 2

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This CD may not contain musical masterpieces, but as a recording it is of enormous musical interest, particularly because of its casting in the central work, Blitzstein's Airborne Symphony.

People who have seen the movie "Cradle Will Rock" know that Orson Welles had worked with Blitzstein many years previous on the latter's anti-fascist musical. Thus, his appearance as narrator of Blitzstein's Airborne Symphony many years later does not appear to be so much of a surprise.

Welles's performance is histrionic at times, to be sure, yet it's not entirely inappropriate to the spirit of the music, which is intentionally bombastic. The music is decidedly uneven, with the final sections, starting with the "Ballad of the Bombadier," being the most enjoyable. Welles's grave, then manic, shouts of "Warning!" in the work's final bars have to be heard to be believed--you'll either come away terrified or laughing, depending on your temperament.

The other works are more or less fillers to the main work--competently performed and recorded, but nothing particularly exciting. All in all, though, this disc is of interest to afficionados of American music, and all those eager to learn more about one of the more unusual artistic collaborations of the twentieth century.

The program included on this disc features two composers that conductor Leonard Bernstein actually studied with (Hill and Piston), and Blitzstein who was a major influence. Marc Blitzstein's AIRBORNE SYMPHONY is an odd, broadly theatrical concert work that is neither really a choral symphony or a cantata. Essentially it is a pageant-like Broadway musical tricked out to symphonic proportions. It is very entertaining, but hardly profound. Written for tenor and baritone soloists, narrator, mixed chorus and large orchestra, it's topical purpose, to open up the second front in Europe, was negated by the fact that it wasn't premiered until a year after the cessation of WWII hostilities. It is grand, grandly absurd, and oddly touching.
The loveliest moment is also the most Broadway tinged, a touching ballad encapsulating a letter from an airman to Emily, the sweetheart who is waiting at home. (Beautifully sung by MET tenor Andrea Velis.) David Watson is the excellent baritone, and Orson Welles the sonorous, sometimes absurdly hammy narrator. The work is a mess, but an endearing one.
The fillers are the once popular suite from Walter Piston's THE INCREDIBLE FLUTIST, a rock solid and appealing example of American musical conservatism, and Edward Burlingame Hill's PRELUDE FOR ORCHESTRA, a fascinating example of impressionist style in the French manner.
The sound recordings are first rate.
There are good liner notes, but no texts for the Blitzstein.

Each of the works, including the almost forgotten "Airborne Symphony" by Marc Blitzstein, are conducted with great passion and commitment by Leonard Bernstein. The New York Philharmonic performs them to their usual high standards.

Yo compré con mucho entusiasmo éste disco de American Masters Vol. 2, a raíz de que el Vol. 1 (Donde sale la gloriosa Tercera Sinfonía de Roy Harris), me encantó. Pero éste disco realmente es un fiasco. Las tres obras que interpreta Bernstein son de muy poco valor artístico. Lo más rescatable es la obra de Piston, que dicho sea de paso no es de sus mejores composiciones.

Un disco para obviar, a no ser que usted quiera tener todo lo que Bernstein grabó.