Customer Reviews

Bernstein: Symphonies Nos. 1- Jeremiah, 2- Age of Anxiety, & 3- Kaddish / Serenade (after Plato)

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The three symphonies here are all sort of religious, explicitly or implicitly. "Jeremiah" was Bernstein's first real success at writing a musically dramatic piece. It has elements of Hebrew chant in it (the Scherzo), and the finale's text is taken directly from the Old Testament. The Symphony No. 2 is effectively LB's piano concerto, though not in name. This is the revised version presented on this disc, with an extended cadenza in the final movement. But what really comes through is Bernstein's incredible compositional ability and ease with jazz idioms. This is an exceptional work from beginning to end, and the "Masque" movement (actually a recycled song from "On the Town") is just glittering in its antics. I read one biographer's claim that "Kaddish" is Bernstein's masterpiece. I don't know if I'd go quite that far (I think "Chichester Psalms" is better), but it's intriguing and wonderfully written. This, too, is a revised version, and the IPO and choirs play (and sing) nobly. My favorite piece here (being a violinist) is the "Serenade". It was written for Isaac Stern and premiered in the '50s, and there really isn't anything else like it. It's an enormously difficult piece, very jazzy (especially the finale), and one that Stern even said is particularly difficult for violinists. Gidon Kremer doesn't make it sound that way, though. He snaps through the work, navigating virtuosically through its intricate rhthms and double-/triple-stops from the first note right through to the very end. The piece is a blast, and so is this collection.

For me, nothing evokes so strongly the human struggle with concepts of God and Faith than does these three symphonies contained within a single set. These works, including the Serenade, cover a period stretching from the early days of American involvement in World War II until the late 1970's. His first symphony, based on Jeremiah, begins the struggle but doesn't resolve it. The second, written for piano and orchestra (here the piano part is played beautifully by Lukas Foss), is based on W. H. Auden's play THE AGE OF ANXIETY and follows the form of that work. (He did essentially the same thing later when he wrote the Serenade based on one of the dialogues of Plato.) The epilogue of that symphony offers some hope at the end of that struggle. But in the Third Symphony, Kaddish, we are again plunged into the depths of the conflict, and more overtly than ever before. Again, there is a sort of resolution at the end, but not an entirely satisfying one, and I suppose that really is as it should be.
For those wishing to study these symphonies to see what you can get out of them, I would highly recommend getting a copy of Auden's AGE OF ANXIETY and Plato's Symposium which forms the basis for the Serenade either here on this website or from your local library. I warn you that these works are not for the feint of heart. Expect to do some very serious investigation, but I do promise that such an investigation will pay very high dividends.

The third symphony on this set is amazing. Michael Wager masters the words, telling the Kaddish story with powerful emotion.... Perfect! I lost this CD and bought it again just to have this version (I have another version of these symphonies, but this one is far superior.

Israel Philharmonic was LB's favorite orchestra, and he conducts his own music with them on this album. Add in the Vienna Boy's Choir (Wienersaengerknaben) and this album is awesome. Highly recommend!

Bernstein made two previous recordings of his Pulitzer-Prize winning Jeremiah Sym, the earliest in mono form the Forties. Both that and the later stereo recording are great, and both vocalists are better than the aging Christa Ludwig. In the Age of Anxiety, his own NY Phil recording is definitive, punched up with jazzy style nowhere nearly matched here. The original Kaddish has an embarrassing text, but later revision didn't hlep much, and Bernstein's wife Felicia was an impassioned narrator. All in all, even with bernstein himself on the podium, he had little to work with in the second-rate Israel Phil. Avoid tis set as a first choice.

The more I listened to this wonderful music, the more I wanted to listen to it. Though more subtle than most prefer, I enjoyed picking up on the subtlty of Bernstein and his music.

I cannot say enough about Bernstien's ability. I am so thoroughly amazed at every listeing to this recording. There are so many things going on all at once and somehow he made them all fit into a coherent musical masterpeice.

Of all the classical albums I have purchased (100+), this is the only one I regret buying. For me to listen to the 2 CDs in this set requires discipline. I could probably enjoy the instrumentals; I can hardly tolerate the vocal/spoken pieces. This is the only Bernstein I own and I would not recommend it. This one will probably end up donated to the local library where someone can enjoy/appreciate it.