Bernstein Century

[Late]

Anyone here collect, or purchase some of, this series? I think it was started in 1997, usually at budget prices. Some are now out-of-print. (Try finding the Lukas Foss!)

I'd be interested to hear faves/recommendations.

An example of the cover art ...

[WD45]

I had a bunch of these at one point.

One funny memory I have of this series:

I was working at the public radio station, sitting the board while A Prairie Home Companion was on air. I was listening to the Bernstein disc with the more modern pieces from the station's record library. The piece in particular was Ligeti's Atmospheres. I THOUGHT I was listening to it in audition mode, but it turns out it was going out over the air ON TOP OF Mr. Keillor.

I got a phone call from a listener that asked if there was some kind of problem; I said, "We are having some technical difficulties."

[Late]

A good one!

And what if you'd said "Actually, the music's on request of Mr. Keillor. Lake Wobegon for moderns."

[CJ Shearn]

I have quite a few of these discs in the series, because I had many of the recordings growing up on vinyl in the "Great Performances" series. Some of the performances like Beethoven's Eroica or Mahler's 2nd symphony are fantastic. Maybe the sound isn't the greatest and maybe versions by other conductors/orchestras may be better but I always really loved the passion in those Bernstein/NY Philharmonic recordings.

[Claude]

Here's the list of releases in this series:

http://www.sonyclassical.com/music/bernstein.html

I have a few of the Mahler sets and the "technical difficulties" (Music of our time) disc

The "Modern Masters" (Lopatnikoff, Dallapiccola, Shapero) looks interesting, for the rare repertoire.

http://www.sonyclassical.com/music/60725/tracks.html

Has anyone heard "What is jazz?"

http://www.sonyclassical.com/music/60566/tracks.html

Edited April 17, 2008 by Claude

[DTMX]

I really like the recording of two of William Schuman's symphonies.

[ejp626]

I have probably 5 or 6 from this series and 4 or 5 from the Royal version before that (they had Prince Charles's water colour on the cover). There's one with Latin American composers that pretty good.

[Tom 1960]

I enjoy these performances recorded I believe around 1959?

Not a Bernstein Century release, but a very nice collection of Haydn's Paris Symphonies.

Edited April 26, 2008 by Tom 1960