Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Unfinished" & 9 "The Great"(Bernstein Century)

Franz [Vienna] Schubert (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Franz [Vienna] Schubert
• Audio CD (January 11, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00003WGO4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,659 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony No. 8 in B minor ('Unfinished'), D. 759: Allegro moderato

2. Symphony No. 8 in B minor ('Unfinished'), D. 759: Andante con moto

3. Symphony No. 9 in C major ('The Great'), D. 944: Andante... Allegro ma non troppo

4. Symphony No. 9 in C major ('The Great'), D. 944: Andante con moto

5. Symphony No. 9 in C major ('The Great'), D. 944: Scherzo & Trio, Allegro vivace

6. Symphony No. 9 in C major ('The Great'), D. 944: Allegro vivace

Editorial Reviews

Schubert: Symphonies No. 8 And No. 9 by St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Alexander Dmitriev

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Great Indeed, October 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Unfinished" & 9 "The Great"(Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

This cd is absolutely necessary for anyone who wants a well-rounded cd collection. It is an impeccable recording (as are most Bernstein Century recordings) of two excellent pieces. The low strings have a unity that is entirely impressive, and the brass simply adds a flavor to the music that enthralls the listener. I obviously give this recording the highest recommendation.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent! Who would have thought?, September 17, 2005

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Unfinished" & 9 "The Great"(Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

Even though critics never mention them, these readings of the Schubert 'Unfinished' and Sym. #9 could be anybody's first choice. I own a hundred Bernstein CDs and yet had passed this one over, thinking that the performances would be romantically exaggerated and out of style. In fact they are wonderful: propulsive, lyrical, and really focused on the musicality of Schubert rather than Bernstein's own personality. Good, clear recordings in the big NY Phil. style of those days, and except for a punchy ending to the first movement of the Ninth, I was carried along by the buoyancy and joy of Bernstein's approach in every bar.

P.S. _ Only later did I hear LB's remake of both works on DG with the Concertgebouw. There, I think the magic is gone, although they are nice engouh readings in their straightforward way.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BERNSTEIN'S BENCHMARK UNFINISHED, August 10, 2007

By 

H. David Lloyd (Bedford, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Unfinished" & 9 "The Great"(Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

Leonard Bernstein's 1963 New York Philharmonic recording of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony No 8 (as was his version of Schubert's No 5) has long remained a performance by which others are judged. It is simply superb, with a lofty nobility that sets it above virtually all rivals.

Although marred by a final movement which is at too fast a tempo, the 9th Symphony performance is fine as well. What a pity that Bernstein never recorded an integral set of the Schubert Symphonies. This wonderful CD, though, is partial compensation; the Unfinished is truly magnificent.

David Lloyd, Bedford, England.