Leonard Bernstein: A Total Embrace -- The Conductor

Disc 1
1	Symphony No. 4 in F minor
2	L'oiseau de feu (The Fire
3	Le Sacre du printemps (Th
4	Shéhérazade, poems (3) fo
5	Piano Concerto in G major
6	Concerto for harpsichord,
7	Concerto for Orchestra, S
8	Symphony No. 5 in D minor
9	Nuages, for orchestra (No
10	Rhapsody in Blue, for pia
Disc 2
1	Symphony No. 39 in E flat
2	El Salón México, for orch
3	Symphony No. 82 in C majo
4	Reisado do pastoreio: Fin
5	Symphony No. 5 in E flat
6	Symphony No. 3 in E flat
7	The Unanswered Question (
8	Symphony No. 2 in C minor
Disc 3
1	Missa in Tempore belli, f
2	Falstaff, opera: Act 3. P
3	Semper Fidelis, march for
4	Requiem (Grande Messe des
5	Symphony No. 2 in D major
6	Symphony No. 3: IV. Molto
7	Oedipus Rex, opera-orator
8	La valse, poème choréogra
9	El Amor brujo, ballet for
10	Adagio for strings (or st
11	Adagietto, for orchestra
Leonard Bernstein: A Total Embrace -- The Conductor
1.	Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36: IV. Finale. Allegro con fuoco 9:31
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
2.	L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), concert suite for orchestra No. 2: Finale 3:32
	Composed by Igor Stravinsky
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
3.	Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 2. The Sacrifice "Sacrificial Dance" (The Cho 4:35
	Composed by Igor Stravinsky
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
4.	Shéhérazade, poems for soprano (or tenor) voice & orchestra (or piano): II. La Flute enchantée 3:02
	Composed by Maurice Ravel
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus, Jennie Tourel and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
5.	Piano Concerto in G major: III. Presto 3:46
	Composed by Maurice Ravel
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
6.	Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D minor (or for 2 oboes & organ or for violin) BWV 1052: I. Allegro 8:36
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
7.	Concerto for Orchestra, for orchestra, Sz. 116, BB 127: V. Finale. Pesante-Presto 9:23
	Composed by Béla Bartók
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
8.	Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47: IV. Allegro non troppo 8:58
	Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
9.	Nuages, for orchestra, L. 91/1 (from Three Nocturnes) 8:15
	Composed by Claude Debussy
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
10.	Rhapsody in Blue for piano & orchestra (orchestral version by F. Grofé) 16:23
	Composed by George Gershwin
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
11.	Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K. 543: IV. Finale. Allegro 7:19
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
12.	El Salón México, for orchestra 11:01
	Composed by Aaron Copland
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
13.	Symphony No. 82 in C major ("The Bear"), H. 1/82: IV. Finale. Vivace 5:39
	Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
14.	Reisado do pastoreio: Finale. Batuque 3:49
	Composed by Oscar Lorenzo Fernândez
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
15.	Symphony No. 5, for orchestra in E-flat major, Op. 82: IV. Allegro molto 9:43
	Composed by Jean Sibelius
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
16.	Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ("Eroica"), Op. 55: I. Allegro con brio 16:57
	Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
17.	The Unanswered Question (I & II), for trumpet, winds & string orchestra, S. 50 (K. 1C25) 5:34
	Composed by Ives
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus, William Vacchiano and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
18.	Symphony No. 2 in C minor ("Resurrection"): (from V. Im Tempo des Scherzos) "Sehr langsam und 16:42
	Composed by Gustav Mahler
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
19.	Missa in tempore belli, for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in C major ("Paukenmesse"), H. 22/9: VI. Agnus Dei. Dona nobis pacem 3:09
	Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Gwendolyn Killebrew, Alan Titus, Lee Venora, Patricia Wells and Norman Scribner Choir
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
20.	Falstaff, opera: Act 3. Part 2. Facciamo il parentado... Tutto nel 3:19
	Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
21.	Semper Fidelis, march for band 2:31
	Composed by John Philip Sousa
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
22.	Requiem (Grande Messe des morts), for tenor, chorus, & orchestra, H. 75 (Op. 5): Dies Irae. Tuba mirum 7:16
	Composed by Hector Berlioz
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, French Radio Choir, Michael Devlin, Orchestre National de France, Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
23.	Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73: III. Allegretto grazioso 5:19
	Composed by Johannes Brahms
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
24.	Symphony No. 3: IV. Molto deliberato 13:26
	Composed by Aaron Copland
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
25.	OEdipus Rex, opera-oratorio in 2 acts: Act 2. Divum Jocastae caput motuum! 6:13
	Composed by Igor Stravinsky
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Michael Devlin, David Evitts, Harvard Glee Club, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
26.	La valse, poème choréographique for orchestra (or piano) 13:16
	Composed by Maurice Ravel
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, Michael Devlin, Orchestre National de France, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
27.	El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & orchestra in 1 act, G. 68 (revised version): The Magic Circle. Song of the Fisherman 3:09
	Composed by Manuel de Falla
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
28.	Adagio for strings (arr. from 2nd mvt. of String Quartet), for string quartet/string orchestra), Op. 11 9:58
	Composed by Samuel Barber
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus and Lee Venora
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein
29.	Adagietto, for orchestra (from the Symphony No.5) 11:18
	Composed by Gustav Mahler
	Performed by Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein, Michael Devlin, Alan Titus, Lee Venora and Members of the New York Philharmonic
	Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Barnes & Noble

This three-CD set's title, A Total Embrace, is a metaphoric reminder of the enormous amount of repertory Leonard Bernstein recorded for Columbia Records (now Sony) over two decades. But, of course, the "embrace" also refers to Bernstein's overtly emotional interpretive style. Whether conducting a Beethoven symphony, an Italian opera, or a 20th century American classic like Copland's El Salón México, Bernstein immersed himself in the music, and the result was always an interpretation with tremendous personality. The 29 selections here run the gamut, from the sublime intricacy of a Bach concerto movement (featuring the great Canadian pianist Glenn Gould) to a dazzling Mozart finale, and from the spiritual solidity of a Haydn Mass to the searching transcendence of Ives's The Unanswered Question. Highlights include one of the most exciting performances of the opening movement of Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony ever committed to disc, a complete performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (with Bernstein taking the solo part as well as conducting the orchestra), and the first-ever CD release of an excerpt from Stravinsky's opera Oedipus Rex. Handsomely packaged, this sampler serves as a compact introduction to Bernstein's art and will send many a listener on their way to explore the complete recordings from which these extracts are drawn. Andrew Farach-Colton

Barnes & Noble

This three-CD set's title, A Total Embrace, is a metaphoric reminder of the enormous amount of repertory Leonard Bernstein recorded for Columbia Records (now Sony) over two decades. But, of course, the "embrace" also refers to Bernstein's overtly emotional interpretive style. Whether conducting a Beethoven symphony, an Italian opera, or a 20th century American classic like Copland's El Salón México, Bernstein immersed himself in the music, and the result was always an interpretation with tremendous personality. The 29 selections here run the gamut, from the sublime intricacy of a Bach concerto movement (featuring the great Canadian pianist Glenn Gould) to a dazzling Mozart finale, and from the spiritual solidity of a Haydn Mass to the searching transcendence of Ives's The Unanswered Question. Highlights include one of the most exciting performances of the opening movement of Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony ever committed to disc, a complete performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (with Bernstein taking the solo part as well as conducting the orchestra), and the first-ever CD release of an excerpt from Stravinsky's opera Oedipus Rex. Handsomely packaged, this sampler serves as a compact introduction to Bernstein's art and will send many a listener on their way to explore the complete recordings from which these extracts are drawn. Andrew Farach-Colton

All Music Guide

In addition to being one of America's most lauded composers, Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) conducted the New York Philharmonic from 1943 through 1969. His no-nonsense approach to classical music was considered controversial, if not somewhat radical, yet his contributions are immeasurable, especially as he crossed cultural lines, exposing the masses to luminous works of symphonic art, many for the first time. He went so far as to demystify the masters, making them palatable for the common listener as well as the studious enthusiast. Since the maestro's copious catalog is undeniably daunting and to honor what would have been his 85th birthday, in 2003 Sony Music created anthologies titled A Total Embrace: The Conductor and A Total Embrace: The Composer. The three-volume mid-price Conductor set contains nearly four hours of Bernstein's offerings from behind the podium. While not presented chronologically, the tracks span nearly a quarter-century, from the Columbia Symphony Orchestra's 1950 rendition of Maurice Ravel's "Shéhérazade: II. La Flute Enchantée" through to a 1975 recording of Hector Berlioz's "Requiem, Op. 5 from Dies Irae: Tuba Mirum." In between, Bernstein's repertoire is thoroughly embodied with arguably definitive recitals ranging from the finale of Mozart's "Symphony No. 39 in E flat Major, KV 543" to Charles Ives' "The Unanswered Question." The latter is just one of several complete compositions; others of note are an unequaled interpretation of Aaron Copland's "El Salón México" and the legendary reading of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" from the St. George Hotel in Brooklyn, NY, where Bernstein not only leads the Columbia Symphony Orchestra but also plays the piano. The only thing that could have improved on the package would be more specific and detailed annotations, as interested parties are presumably novices. Otherwise, A Total Embrace: The Conductor and A Total Embrace: The Composer are highly recommended entrées and sizable career overviews. Lindsay Planer

Seattle Times

The arrival of what would have been Bernstein's 85th birthday [in August 2003] is the excuse for two tasty collections of Bernstein, [The Conductor and The Composer].... While six CDs can't possibly do justice to the enormous output of this prolifically gifted mega-musician, these two sets offer a good cross section.... Great stuff. Melinda Bargreen