Ives: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 / Bernstein discusses Charles Ives (Bernstein Century)

Charles Ives (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Charles Ives
• Audio CD (March 31, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000062D1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,978 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #19 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Ives, Charles

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bernstein conducts Ives, October 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Ives: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 / Bernstein discusses Charles Ives (Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

Just as Bernstein had done for the music of Gustav Mahler, he helped to popularize the music of an American original, Charles Ives (1874-1954). He found Ives a genius, too, as he said in a companion recording included with Columbia's first LP reissue of the historic recording of Ives' amazing second symphony.

Bernstein actually conducted the world premiere of the second symphony on February 25, 1951, and both Charles Ives and his wife, Harmony, were persuaded to the listen to the New York Philharmonic's radio broadcast. At the crazy "reveille" ending, the Carnegie Hall audience gave the work a thunderous ovation, which caused Harmony to remark to her husband, "Why, they actually like it!"

Four years earier, composer-conductor Lou Harrison, a friend of the generally reclusive Ives, conducted a New York orchestra in the world premiere of the third symphony. This is a more conventional work, which still has its share of twists, and one of the more interesting "what if's" comes from the fact that Gustav Mahler had seen the score and promised to conduct the New York Philharmonic in the world premiere; unfortunately, Mahler died that spring and his successors had no interest in performing a symphony by an "unknown" American composer. Yet in 1947, when Harrison finally conducted its first performance, the work was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Typically, Ives refused the award, saying prizes were for boys.

The second symphony has long been associated with Leonard Bernstein and not just because he introduced it. Bernstein recorded the work in Brooklyn's St. George Hotel on October 6, 1958, and championed it. He recognized the genius at work. He marveled at how Ives so effectively incorporated American patriotic songs, hymns, and college songs, as well as subtle quotes from the music of Ives' musical heroes, J.S. Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. The orchestration is lush, too, and deeply moving. There are odd twists, to be sure, and bits of humor, especially at the very end of the symphony.

When I first heard Bernstein's recording of the second symphony, I knew this was a very special work. Bernstein included it in a CBS "Young People's Concert" telecast. He helped us to appreciate this wonderful work and this recording is a lasting testimony not only to the work's brilliance but Bernstein's ability to interpret it with great love and affection.

The third symphony is a deeply spiritual work, abounding in the New England hymns that Ives so loved and admired. Ives had a particular fondness for Lowell Mason, one of the first great American composers. Bernstein's recording is highly enjoyable and very moving.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Educational, July 29, 2003

By 

Peter Prainito (Lombard, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ives: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 / Bernstein discusses Charles Ives (Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

I have always loved Leonard Bernstein's musical lectures. This fine recording of Ives: Symphonies, No. 2 & 3 not only offers very idiomatic performances by the great late Bernstein, but includes his superb lecture on Charles Ives. As with other Sony recordings that include Bernstein's insightful commentaries, this CD is worth the price of purchase just to hear his educational profile of Charles Ives, a true "American Original" who marched to a different beat. I only hope that Sony eventually releases all of Bernstein's musical lectures on CD. The Beethoven 5th symphony needs to be re-released with his wonderful lecture on the making of the 5th symphony. The Sony "Royal Collection" (out of print) of Beethoven's 5th symphony included his lecture in several languages, but from what I've been reading it was a fiasco (not the lecture, but Sony's production of it).

Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An landmark recording, July 6, 2009

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G.D. (Norway) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ives: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 / Bernstein discusses Charles Ives (Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

This classic reissue will probably hardly need much by way of commentary. Bernstein's advocacy of Ives was pivotal in firmly establishing the latter's position in the pantheon of great composers, and this performance of the second symphony was perhaps the single most decisive single event. And it is a superb performance, revealing a deep understanding of Ives's idiosyncratic musical language - and the orchestral playing is superb, probably unsurpassed. Listen, for example, to Bernstein's rather quick but sure-footed pacing of the finale - utterly convincing, and much more so than any alternative version I've heard. This is, in short, one of the landmark recordings of the 20th century and a must-hear for anyone even remotely interested in the composer.

The same characteristics apply to the version of the third; utterly idiomatic and utterly convincing in all respects. Ok, so Bernstein didn't have access to (neither in the third nor the second) any critical edition of the score (as opposed to e.g. Schermerhorn), but the results he achieve is still more convincing than any of the competition - the work is superbly paced and well-shaped, but Bernstein doesn't brush over the details. It is a generally broad reading, maybe - if one were to be a little nitpicky - too much so in the first two movements.

The recording sounds its age, of course, but these versions are still essential. The release also includes a thirteen-minute lecture on the composer which is interesting but seems a little bit superficial. Overall an urgently recommended release.