Legacy: Leonard Bernstein

Bernstein's Best
It's astonishing how easily a grainy black and white image can transport one back in time to a youth misspent watching countless hours of television. Thankfully in my case, that time included regular doses of Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts. While my generation was busy learning the intricacies of scales, intervals and symphonic development from Lenny, adult viewers across the pond were treated to a short but remarkable TV series titled "Symphonic Twilight". This disc derives from two of those 1966 BBC broadcasts.

The series was the brainchild of Humphrey Burton, then head of music and arts programming for the BBC. Burton went on to produce most (if not all) of Bernstein's videos and write a perceptive biography of the great man (Leonard Bernstein). Here, though, he seems somewhat mystified by the title Bernstein chose for his series. Citing Lenny's own three symphonies as Exhibit A, Burton...

Surprisingly stunning despite compromising sound.
Dated video quality. Sound very crude. Not a modern Bob Coles or Brian Large spectacular. All that is true BUT..... the performance is much more integrated and, oddly, in sync than the quadraphonic recording with the same orchestra 6/7 years later. That one, the second Rite recording by Bernstein, sort of falls apart in the end (a terribly ragged Sacrificial Dance) and the sonics are also compromised, but in a different way. The performance here is as white hot as the early New York Phil recording, his first, yet better played. Could it be the best Bernstein Le Sacre??? I think so. I was thrilled by it. Add to that a great Sibelius 5 and you have an essential purchase. Add to that the little talk with Burton and Bernstein as a bonus and you have a DVD that all Bernstein fans should have; additionally it's a DVD Bernstein naysayers should hear to perhaps reconsider the presumed conclusion that he was a "indulgent over the top interpreter with no objectivity whatsoever". The orchestra...

As Stravinsky said (of an earlier Bernstein performance): WOW!
The other reviewers beat me to it, so I'll just say that this Sibelius 5th far surpasses what Bernstein did with Vienna on the later DVD. No-- the sound isn't perfect. But get this while you can. You can sit around and hope, but stuff this good ain't never comin' round again.

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