As we approach the Bernstein centenary (2018), Deutsche Grammophon completes its deluxe survey of his recordings on Deutsche Grammophon, with a 64-CD set comprising his complete Mahler, Mozart, Schumann, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky recordings for the label.  Recordings are presented in original sleeves and with original couplings. The LP-size booklet includes a new essay on Bernstein by Nigel Simeone, editor of the recently published The Leonard Bernstein Letters, a specially-written foreword by Bernstein’s daughter Jamie Bernstein, and a reprint of Michael Gray’s article 'Bernstein Talking About Music'.

The follow up to the hugely successful Vol.1 released in 2014, the repertoire of this second volume is if anything even stronger, and together these sets will present the Complete Bernstein Recordings on DG. Meanwhile, Paramount have announced a Bernstein biopic directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, the first in a ream of initiatives as we move towards 2018.

Volume 2 comprises Bernstein’s complete recordings of composers from Mahler (19 CDs) to Wagner (Tristan und Isolde), and includes all of Bernstein’s recordings of Mendelssohn, Mozart, Puccini, Schubert, Schumann, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Strauss, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. This repertoire is supplemented by the five American Decca CDs, with performances and analyses of Beethoven’s 'Eroica', Schumann’s Second, Dvořák’s 'New World', Brahms’s Fourth and Tchaikovsky’s 'Pathétique'.

The Collection is rounded off by original cast selections from Bernstein’s Fancy Free and On the Town (1945 / 1946).

Contents:

CD1–19: MAHLER – The 9 Symphonies, plus the Adagio from the Tenth; the famous Berlin Philharmonic recording of the Ninth; Das Lied von der Erde with James King and Fischer-Dieskau (Decca); orchestral Lieder with Lucia Popp, Andreas Schmidt, Thomas Hampson

CD20–21: MENDELSSOHN’s “Scottish”, “Italian” and !”Reformation” Symphonies, plus the “Hebrides” Overture

CD22–29: MOZART – the Late Symphonies and other symphonies, Piano Concertos K450 and K453 with Bernstein as soloist. Two celebrated choral CDs: the Mass in C minor (with fillers) and the Requiem, a recording dedicated to the memory of Bernstein’s wide Felicia.

CD30-31: PUCCINI’s La Bohème, recorded in Rome with the Accademia di Santa Cecilia and a daring young cast

CD32–33: SCHUBERT – Symphonies nos. 5, 8 and 9

CD34–36: SCHUMANN’s Four Symphonies in Bernstein’s masterly survey plus the Piano Concerto (Frantz) and the Cello Concerto (Maisky)

CD 37–39: SHOSTAKOVICH - Symphonies nos. 1, 6, 7 and 9 in Bernstein’s benchmark, award-winning  performances

CD40–41: Controversial but indispensable SIBELIUS: Symphonies nos. 1, 2, 5 and 7

CD42: rare RICHARD STRAUSS orchestral Lieder with Monserrat Caballé

CD44–48: STRAVINSKY – recordings of the early ballets and the Symphonies, bursting with life. An exceptional recording of Les Noces, featuring Martha Argerich and Krystian Zimerman

CD49–53: TCHAIKOVSKY – both the controversial broad, late interpretations of the last three symphonies and rarities from the late Seventies

CD 54: Dvořák’s Cello Concerto and Bloch’s impassioned Schelomo with Mischa Maisky (originally intended for Volume One)

CD 55–58: WAGNER’s Tristan und Isolde, recorded on Philips in 1981, with Hildegard Behrens and Peter Hoffmann in the title roles. “For the first time, someone dares to perform this music as Wagner wrote it”, said Karl Böhm when he visited Bernstein during rehearsals. The Penguin Stereo Guide wrote: “The surprise is that Bernstein, over-emotional in some music, here exercises restraint to produce the most spacious reading ever put to disc … His rhythmic sharpness goes with warmly expressive but unexaggerated phrasing to give unflagging concentration and deep commitment … The love duet has rarely if ever sounded so sensuous with supremely powerful climaxes.”

CD59–63: The American Decca Recordings: performances and analyses of Beethoven’s “Eroica”, Schumann’s Second, Dvořák’s “New World”, Brahms’s Fourth and Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” in recordings made in 1953 / 1956

CD64: BONUS CD Selections from 1945 / 1946 recordings of Bernstein‘s Fancy Free and On the Town, with original cast members