Leonard Bernstein

Music For The Day

Samuel Hooper1 Comment

A very different feel in today’s Music For The Day, quite a marked contrast from the frenetic and technically challenging piano music of the past few days. Today we feature the finale from Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring”, incorporating the well-known Shaker melody “The Gift to be Simple”.

 

The close harmonies in both the strings and the woodwind are delightful, and of course are so much a part of Copland’s unique American sound.

This recording was performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, though my all-time favourite version remains the orchestrally slimmed-down original arrangement in the excellent recording by the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the composer himself.

Music For The Day

Samuel HooperLeave a comment

The first and second movements from Symphony no. 2 by Jean Sibelius (1902).

 

Performed here by Leonard Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

It’s a good version, albeit alternately overwrought and halting on occasions, and not a patch on the LSO/Davis recordings and performances, which remain the best available to date.

Music For The Day

Samuel HooperLeave a comment

The final movement from Aaron Copland’s Third Symphony, performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Bernstein.

 

A happy weekend to all!

Music For The Day

Samuel HooperLeave a comment

“Moonlight”, the third movement of “Sea Interludes”, a suite of four pieces taken from Benjamin Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes”, performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and conducted here by Leonard Bernstein at what I believe was his final concert:

 

“Peter Grimes” is one of my favourite operas, and has been since I went to a concert performance by the London Symphony Orchestra with Glenn Winslade in the title role several years ago.

Against the backdrop of a lush, evocative depiction of life in a 19th century fishing village in East Anglia, the opera tells the story of how a vengeful and gossiping community harrangue and eventually cast out Peter Grimes, a local misfit fisherman.

This is one of several “interlude” pieces which Britten wrote to separate the various acts of the opera, this one coming after a particularly climactic scene. The orchestral depiction of the moonlight on the still, calm sea, is quite breathtaking.

Leonard Bernstein takes a very slow tempo in this performance, but the stilling effect is so strong that I almost feel that I am gazing out at the sea on a cold night in Aldeburgh, Suffolk.

Music For The Day

Samuel Hooper4 Comments

Piano Concerto in G by Maurice Ravel, first movement, performed here by Leonard Bernstein conducting from the piano.

 

Not my favourite interpretation of the piece, but any chance to see Lenny performing is always good.