Bizet: Symphony No. 1; Offenbach: Gaite Parisienne

Georges Bizet (Composer), Jacques Offenbach (Composer), Franz von Suppe (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Georges Bizet, Jacques Offenbach, Franz von Suppe
• Audio CD (July 27, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000JQGT
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,554 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony in C major ('No. 1'): I. Allegro Vivo

2. Symphony in C major ('No. 1'): II. Adagio

3. Symphony in C major ('No. 1'): III. Scherzo (Allegro Vivace) and Trio

4. Symphony in C major ('No. 1'): IV. Allegro Vivace

5. Gaîté Parisienne, ballet (music by Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal): I. Overture

6. Gaîté Parisienne, ballet (music by Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal): II. Tortoni No. 1

7. Gaîté Parisienne, ballet (music by Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal): III. Polka

8. Gaîté Parisienne, ballet (music by Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal): IV. Galop

9. Gaîté Parisienne, ballet (music by Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal): V. Valse Lente March

10. Gaîté Parisienne, ballet (music by Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal): VI Grande Valse

11. Gaîté Parisienne, ballet (music by Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal): VII. Cancan

12. Gaîté Parisienne, ballet (music by Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal): VIII. Barcarolle

13. Gaîté Parisienne, ballet (music by Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal): Overture

14. Orphée aux enfers, operetta: Overture

15. Die schöne Galathee (The Beautiful Galatea), operetta: Overture

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joyful and infectious Bernstein !, February 1, 2003

By 

Jeffrey Lee (Asheville area, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bizet: Symphony No. 1; Offenbach: Gaite Parisienne (Audio CD)

If you've been on a consistent diet of "heavy" works lately, the Bizet Symphony just might offer the best chaser. Its winsome, light, bracing qualities can produce a sigh and a warm smile. And the performance that most immediately and best puts one in the right mood is Bernstein's. From the first to the last emphatic chord, his joie de vivre approach is in evidence. It is there in the quieter as well as the boisterous moments, and for me, makes this the interpretation of choice, despite some pretty stiff competition from the likes of Beecham, Munch, Ansermet and Stokowski. After Bernstein, I prefer Munch and Stokowski, however, the latter's performance on cd does not sound as good as his same performance on cassette or lp. Beecham, of course, has been highly praised, and he does offer a very well played account, but I find he does not convey consistently the kind of elan Bernstein does. Aside from the symphony, Bernstein gives us exciting and colorful renditions of Offenbach's Gaite Parisienne and Orpheus in the Underworld and Suppe's Beautiful Galatea Overture. A fine investment overall for your musical "sweet tooth".

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'LL LET YOU IN ON A SECRET....., April 23, 2009

By 

Gengler (The Frigid Northeast) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bizet: Symphony No. 1; Offenbach: Gaite Parisienne (Audio CD)

Bernstein's performance of Offenbach's Gaite Parisienne is my guilty pleasure. Yes, the Bizet is wonderful, but I grew up with the old Arthur Fiedler recording of the Offenbach....it was the first piece of "classical" music that I remember hearing as a kid. I may collect complete sets of the Beethoven piano sonatas now, but it's Gaite Parisienne that re-kindles those long lost moments of childhood innocence and discovery.

Bernstein outdoes Fiedler in interpretation, making this music sound better than it actually is. Oh hell - it's wonderful - and Lenny always was good with the schmaltz!

The Bizet and Suppe and great too - this disc, selling for about 5 bucks on amazon - will bring immense enjoyment to most folks who need a break from Mahler, Beethoven string quartetes, and Alkan's piano concerto.

Pour yourself a glass of wine, grab a loved one, and enjoy! The 1960s Columbia sound is OK, with its usual limitations. Still, I wouldn't trade this recording for all the Telarcs in the catalogue. There's joy in these tracks (er, bits). Doubt it? Try track 5 - the track 12, the famous Can-Can. If you can't see Lenny swaying his hips and smiling while conducting, you've been listening to WAY too much Bruckner.

(Was there any other conductor whose conducting could put a smile on your face? - God love ' im.)

OOooo-La-La!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BIZET's Best Symphony..., June 11, 2007

By 

Sébastien Melmoth (Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bizet: Symphony No. 1; Offenbach: Gaite Parisienne (Audio CD)

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This surely must be the finest realization of Bizet's popular Symphony currently available. Lenny and the NYPO bring a robust Beethovenian reading to the work--which can stand a little masculine vigor--(as opposed to feminine lightness). The piece is a true joy.

The less said about the Offenbach and Suppé, the better: the works are absurdly cartoonishly bumptious; personally, I would never listen to such cheesy stuff.

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