Customer Reviews

Bernstein ~ The Final Concert- Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 / Britten: Four Sea Interludes, from Peter Grimes

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Due to the historic and sentimental impact of this recording, done at a live concert, I think it would be pretty mean-spirited to give it anything less than a full recommendation, although under other circumstances one might reconsider. Unlike other reviews, I found the Beethoven more successful than the Britten. The Sea Pictures from Peter Grimes were atmospheric but due to the slow tempi the horn parts tended to blare somewhat in the storm section. I find this music needs a quicker pulse to be completely effective, and would have to say this is not the equal of Previn's recording in London, or that of the composer, both of which were admittedly done under studio conditions.The central Pictures were very effective. It was nonetheless an individual interpretation, well worth hearing. The Beethoven 7th, as also noted elsewhere, is among the slowest recordings available, due to the basic tempo and the observance of all repeats. The Allegretto sounded more like an Adagio, which some purists would find objectionable, but its tempo fit in with the rest of the score. The Scherzo was slow too but Bernstein conducted the sforzandi very literally, which hit me with a jolt more than once - as surely Beethoven intended. Quite frankly I was surprised to read Bernstein was feeling so poorly he leaned against the podium for support during this movement, the playing doesn't give that impression. The finale has just enough of an increase in tempo to give it extra lift and sparkle, without losing symphonic strength. The orchestra plays with excellent rhythmic pointing and the horns blaze in the coda without sounding frenetic, as many other performances do. The immediate and boisterous ovation was gratifying and heart-warming. The digital recording is excellent, as is the detailed documentation. Overall, this recording is a valuable document, and its inevitable flaws make it none the worse for that. Strongly recommended.

This is not a terrifically played concert: the crowd noise interferes frequently (it doesn't help that this was recorded in the Tanglewood "Shed" on a rainy day, too), and there are occasional orchestral mistakes. But to make claims that the tempos taken are self indulgent on the part of the conductor and that this performance is uninspired is outrageous. If nothing else, since this is Leonard Bernstein's final recording/concert, it is of enormous historical value. That said, it is a tremendous feat on his part what is documented here. The Britten "Interludes" are played by the BSO as well as anyone plays them, and in the Beethoven there is a phenomenal amount of emotional energy given out. It is slow, if for no other reason than that LB was too sick to keep up: at points in the performance he could barely breathe and almost collapsed in the middle of the Beethoven, barely making it through to the end. However, as a result--even at this (granted) lugubrious tempo--the Andante carries with it an unmatched pathos and mournful significance, and the final, brilliant chords of the finale have a note (no pun, please) of very special triumph. For, to quote the liner notes, "...(Bernstein) had fought another battle, and--for the last time--he had triumphed."

I am amazed at the naysayers. This recording, idiosyncratic a la Bernstein, nonetheless is dramatic, powerful and exciting. To those who cpmplained it was too slow in parts, I guess they just didn't listen to the tension-building as we were led to magnificent crescendoes. a marvelous personal statement.

I have only just discovered this recording and am stunned by the quality of the playing.

OK the recording is slightly marred by the shuffling and coughing of a live performance but what magnificent playing.

Having read the earlier reviews I was expecting the Beethoven to be a dirge and bought the CD as a 'homage' to Lenny, but I think it is probably one of the most intense recordings of Beethoven's 7th I have heard - full of tension and vitality.

Don't be fooled, despite his physical frailty this Beethoven is inspired both in terms of conducting and instrumental playing. The orchestra knew this was Lenny's final appearance at Tanglewood and absolutely played their socks off - and Lenny knew exactly what he was doing with the slower tempos. There are so many phrases that leap out a bring new light and shade.

The Britten is wonderful to - but the Beethoven recording should be heard by everyone (at least once).

Even though this CD contained few orchestral mistakes and soft murmers of the audience during the performance, the program doesn't bother me much.

What I care about this CD is that it was a sort of a "good-bye" concert of my very favorite conductor of all times, Leonard Bernstein.

The performance was a little slower than other performances, but fairly neat.

Britten's Sea Interludes from "Peter Grimes" gave me plenty of oceanic imagination and mood.

I was nearly touched by the final movement of Beethoven's seventh symphony and the final bursts of applause and cries of the audiences.

If I were to become a conductor, I would want to celebrate 50 years after Lenny's last performance by performing the same music Lenny had programmed in his last concert. I truly respect Bernstein as a musician.

Leonard Bernstein was one of those few geniuses who truly understood the majesty and the nuances of playing Beethoven. At no other time was Bernstein so emotionally charged playing Beethoven's 7th Symphony than when he conducted the legendary Boston Symphony at Bernstein's beloved music conservatory Tanglewood. As Tanglewood students and a few lucky others were treated to a flawless interpretation by Bernstein of the fourth movement, the symphony responded as one voice, rising and falling and finally crashing through to the end of the piece to a screaming audience's approval! A few weeks later the Maestro died; his final performance, without a doubt, having been his best.

Like one of the earlier reviewers, I bought this CD as a memorial and expected the performances to sound as frail as Bernstein looks on the cover. It's a tragedy that emphysema and a lifetime of smoking could cause such deterioration in someone just past seventy. But musically this is first-rate Bernstein, somewhat slow in the Beethoven, but no more so than Klemperer and with much better playing from the BSO than Klemperer ever got from the Philharmonia. Nothing in even the slowest passages is ponderous and much is deeply felt. The Britten is searingly emotional and elevated the Four Sea Interludes into an expressive realm I had never experienced, even from the composer himself. In all respects the two pieces on this splendid and moving CD exemplify why Bernstein, among all American conductors, is the only one to enter the pantheon.

Bernstein's final concert does not disappoint. Bernstein was very sick during this concert and it must have been amazing to have been at this live event at Tanglewood and to see the maestro in visible pain and discomfort. It is a broad, atmospheric recording, majestic and heartfelt. You hardly notice the unusually slow speeds Bernstein takes in the first and last movements because the Boston Symphony plays so magnificently. The audience immediately bursts into applause and "Bravo!" at the end. A fitting end to a legendary life and career.

I wanted to listen to this CD for its historical value as Leonard Bernstein's last concert, not expecting much from it. But these are fantastic performances, burning with energy throughout, that are among the finest I've heard of either piece.

Yes, the Beethoven 7 is slow, but is this a surprise from late Bernstein? He played almost everything slow in his later years. But while the tempi may not be brisk, the energy level is still on overdrive. The same can be said of the Britten Sea Interludes, which may be a little brassy from not being recorded in studio conditions, but are also packed with power.

I find it unbelievable that Bernstein's final concert could be so fantastic. The only drawback (apart from the occasional brassy sound in the Britten) is crowd noise -- audible coughs and such. These defects are easily overlooked -- we would have heard them if we were there at the concert too.

I really think this is up there among Bernstein's best performances, which is saying something. Get it for the history, but listen to it again and again for the music.

I am a hugh fan and admirer of Leonard Bernstein. He taught me so much about classical music and how to come to appreciate its beauty and passion. It was terrible news to me to hear of his death back in 1990. So when I found out that there was a recording of Bernstein's last concert that had been released on CD there was no second thought about getting it. If there is anyone else reading this who is a fan of Bernstein you will want to consider purchasing this disc to add to your collection. The concert itself is outstanding. There were two pieces of music that Lenny conducted that night at Tanglewood on August 19th 1990. The first piece was 4 Sea Interludes by Benjamin Britten. A piece of classical music I was not familier with but has become one of my favorites after listening to this performance. The second piece preformed was Beethovan's 7th Symphony. Bernstein has always been know as one of the best interpreters of Beethovans music. It seems fitting I guess that the last time Bernstein appeared up on the podium would include something by Ludwig. As I listened to the recording I read the liner notes in the booklet that is included with the CD. It was saddening to read how Bernstein had to struggle through to make it to the end of the performance (Bernstein would die less then two months after this concert). But Leonard hung in there and made it to the end. This is a CD I recommend to anyone who loves classical music and/or is a fan of Bernstein. The music will inspire and the concert will not dissapoint.