Leonard Bernstein: The Remastered Edition

On the eve of his centenary in 2018, Sony Classical is proud to announce the most important collection yet released of Leonard Bernstein’s classic American Columbia recordings, newly remastered from their original 2- and 3-track analogue tapes.

Most comprehensive collection ever: This is unquestionably the most complete display of the legendary American conductor’s unparalleled dynamism and versatility ever offered in a single package.

Improved sound quality: Many of Bernstein’s most memorable and critically acclaimed interpretations are brought together here for the first time. This has allowed for the creation of a natural balance (for example, between the orchestra and solo instruments) that brings the quality of these half-century-old recordings, excellent for their time, up to the discriminating standards of today’s audiophiles. In addition, there has been a meticulous restoration of some earlier masterings in which LP surface noise was too rigorously eliminated at the expense of the original brilliance. In every case, the masterings in this new collection represent the best ever issued of these matchless recordings by one of the greatest musicians of the last century.

Highlights of the set: There are his two classic complete opera recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic: Verdi’s Falstaff (1966) starring Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Strauss’s Rosenkavalier (1971) with Christa Ludwig, Gwyneth Jones, Lucia Popp and Walter Berry. Bernstein’s New York Philharmonic recordings that launched the “Mahler Renaissance” in the 1960s are featured, including the 1961 Third Symphony which has arguably never been surpassed. Ditto for Carl Nielsen, whose great works Bernstein brought to a wide new public with interpretations like the 1962 NYP recording of the Fifth Symphony, perhaps the most thrilling account of this 20th-century masterpiece ever committed to disc. The Sibelius Fifth recording from 1961 is another celebrated Bernstein reading. Bernstein’s interpretation of Beethoven’s Fifth from 1961 is as electrifying now as it was then. Not to mention Bernstein himself in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue!

Includes audio commentary from Bernstein himself: His talk about Beethoven’s Fifth is one of many treasurable spoken-word commentaries in this set delivered by one of classical music’s most charismatic and influential lecturers and teachers, providing unparalleled insights into the mind of this great man.

Bernstein the composer is also represented by all his ballets, symphonies, concertos and more. The original Broadway cast recording of Candide from 1956 is included, as is the definitive version of his most famous work, the original Broadway cast recording of West Side Story from 1957 – plus Bernstein’s later recording of the musical’s Symphonic Dances.

The package includes facsimile LP-sleeves and labels in addition to a coffee table book with full discographical notes.

“One of the most prodigally talented and successful musicians in American history.” – The New York Times

STRAVINSKY: L'Histoire du soldat

STRAVINSKY: Octet for Wind Instruments

MILHAUD: La création du monde

BERNSTEIN: Afterthought - Study for the Ballet 'Facsimile'

BERNSTEIN: I hate music

BERNSTEIN: The Age of Anxiety (Symphony No.2)

BERNSTEIN: Serenade for violin, strings and percussion

SHAPERO: Symphony for classical orchestra

MOZART: Piano Concerto No.17 in G major, K453

MOZART: Piano Concerto No.15 in B-flat major, K450

STRAVINSKY: L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird) - Suite (1919)

TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet - Fantasy Overture

BARTÓK: Violin Concerto No.2 in B minor, Sz112

STRAVINSKY: Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)

BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D major, op.61

SHOSTAKOVITCH: Symphony No.5 in D minor, op.47

GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue

GERSHWIN: An American in Paris

GROFÉ: Grand Canyon suite

DEBUSSY: Images, pour orchestre

VIVALDI: Concerto in C major for diverse Instruments RV558

VIVALDI: Oboe Concerto in D minor RV454

VIVALDI: Flute Concerto in C minor, RV441

VIVALDI: Concerto for Piccolo, Strings and Basso continuo in C major, RV443

IVES: Symphony No.2

IVES: Symphony No.3 'The Camp Meeting'

IVES: The Unanswered Question

IVES: Central Park in the Dark

COPLAND: Rodeo

COPLAND: Billy the Kid. Ballet suite

PROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf, op.67

TCHAIKOVSKY: Casse noisette (The Nutcracker). Suite, op.71a

MAHLER: Kindertotenlieder

MAHLER: Rückert Lieder - Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft

MAHLER: Rückert Lieder - Ich bin der Welt abhandengekommen

MAHLER: Des Knaben Wunderhorn - Das irdische Leben

MAHLER: Rückert Lieder - Um Mitternacht

BERNSTEIN: On the Town

HANDEL: Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV76

DUKAS: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

MUSSORGSKY: Night on Bald Mountain

SAINT-SAËNS: Danse macabre, op.40

Leonard Bernstein discusses Humor in Music

STRAUSS, Richard: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, op.28 (Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks)

BERNSTEIN: West Side Story - Symphonic dances

BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Suite from 'On the Waterfront'

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No.4 in G major, op.58

TCHAIKOVSKY: Francesca da Rimini, op.32

TCHAIKOVSKY: Capriccio italien, op.45

TCHAIKOVSKY: Marche slave, op.31

TCHAIKOVSKY: Ouverture Solennelle '1812', op.49

DEBUSSY: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

DEBUSSY: Trois nocturnes. No.1, Nuages

DEBUSSY: Trois nocturnes. No.2, Fêtes

DEBUSSY: Jeux

BERNSTEIN: Symphony No.1 'Jeremiah'

HARRIS: Symphony No.3

MAHLER: Symphony No.3 in D minor

STRAVINSKY: Concerto for piano and winds

STRAVINSKY: Pulcinella. Suite

WAGNER: Götterdämmerung - Brünnhilde's immolation

WAGNER: Wesendonck-Lieder

COPLAND: Appalachian spring. Ballet suite

COPLAND: El salón México

BERLIOZ: Harold en Italie, op.16

TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No.1 in B-flat minor, op.23

BARTÓK: Rhapsody No.1 for violin and orchestra, Sz87

BARTÓK: Rhapsody No.2 for violin and orchestra, Sz90

BERG: Violin Concerto 'To the Memory of an Angel'

DVORÁK: Symphony No.9 in E minor, op.95 'From the New World'

SAINT-SAËNS: Carnival of the Animals

BRITTEN: Variations on a theme of Purcell, op.34 (Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra)

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, op.15

RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, op.18

RAVEL: Schéhérazade

BERLIOZ: La mort de Cléopâtre (scène lyrique)

SCHUMANN: Symphony No.2 in C major, op.61

SCHUMANN: Symphony No.3 in E-flat major, op.97 'Rhenish'

LISZT: Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat major, S124

LISZT: Les Préludes, S97

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No.5 in C minor, op.67

How a great Symphony was written

BRAHMS: Symphony No.4 in E minor, op.98

ROSSINI: L'Italiana in Algeri - Overture

ROSSINI: Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) - Overture

ROSSINI: La scala di seta - Overture

ROSSINI: La gazza ladra - Overture

ROSSINI: Semiramide - Overture

ROSSINI: Guillaume Tell - Overture

BARTÓK: Music for strings, percussion and celesta, Sz106

HINDEMITH: Concert music for strings and brass, op. 50

SCHUMANN: Symphony No.1 in B-flat major, op.38 'Spring'

SCHUMANN: Genoveva, op.81 - Overture

LISZT: A Faust Symphony

BERNSTEIN: Symphony No. 3 'Kaddish'

HAYDN: Symphony No. 82 in C major 'The Bear'

HAYDN: Symphony No. 83 in G minor 'La poule'

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, op.37

BEETHOVEN: Fantasy in C minor for piano, chorus and orchestra, op.80

MAHLER: Symphony No. 2 in C minor 'Resurrection

BERNSTEIN: Fancy Free

BERNSTEIN: Candide - Overture

BERNSTEIN: Three Dance Episodes from "On the Town"

BERNSTEIN: Prelude, Fugue and Riffs

BARBER: Violin Concerto, op.14

HINDEMITH: Violin Concerto (1939)

SIBELIUS: Symphony No.5 in E-flat major, op.82

SIBELIUS: Pohjola's daughter, op.49

SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto in D minor, op.47

NIELSEN: Symphony No.3, op.27 'Sinfonia espansiva'

NIELSEN: Symphony No.5, op.50

BERNSTEIN: Chichester Psalms

BERNSTEIN: Facsimile

MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No.4 in A major, op.90 'Italian'

SCHUBERT: Symphony No.8 in B minor, D759 'Unfinished'

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No.3 in E-flat major, op.55 'Eroica'

DVORÁK: Carnival - Overture, op.92

DVORÁK: Slavonic Dance in C major, op.46, no.1

DVORÁK: Slavonic Dance in A-flat major, op.46, no.3

SMETANA: Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride) - Overture

SMETANA: Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride) - Polka

SMETANA: Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride) - Act II, Furiant

SMETANA: Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride) - Act III, Dance of the Comedians

SMETANA: Vlatava (The Moldau)

VERDI: Falstaff

SCHUMANN: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, op.44

MOZART: Piano Quartet No.1 in G minor, K478

BACH, J.S.: Violin Concerto in E major, BWV1042

BACH, J.S.: Concerto in C minor for violin and oboe, BWV1060

BACH, J.S.: Concerto in D minor for two violins, BWV1043

MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No.3 in A minor, op.56 'Scottish'

MENDELSSOHN: Hebrides overture, op.26 'Fingal's Cave'

BORODIN: Prince Igor - Polovtsian Dances

IPPOLITOV-IVANOV: Caucasian sketches, op.10 - in the village

IPPOLITOV-IVANOV: Caucasian sketches, op.10 - Procession of the Sadar

MUSSORGSKY: Night on Bald Mountain

MUSSORGSKY: Khovanshchina - Prelude 'Dawn on the Moskva River' (orch. Rimsky-Korsakov)

GLINKA: Ruslan and Ludmilla - Overture

NIELSEN: Flute Concerto, op.119

NIELSEN: Clarinet Concerto, op.57

HAYDN: Die Schöpfung (The Creation), Hob. XXI:2

MAHLER: Symphony No.6 in A minor 'Tragic'

MAHLER: Symphony No.9 in D major

BRAHMS: Serenade No.2 in A major, op.16

PROKOFIEV: Symphony No.1 in D major, op. 5 'Classical'

BIZET: Symphony in C major

GOLDMARK: Symphony 'Die ländiche Hochzeit', op.26 (Rustic Wedding Symphony)

HAYDN: Symphony No.88 in G major

HAYDN: Symphony No.102 in B-flat major

BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique, op.14

Berlioz Takes a Trip

STRAUSS, Johann II: An der schönen blauen Donau (On the beautiful blue Danube) - Walzer, op.314

STRAUSS, Johann II: Kaiser Walzer, op.437 (Emperor Waltz)

STRAUSS, Johann II: Wiener Blut (Vienna Blood) - Walzer, op.354

STRAUSS, Johann II: Künstlerleben (Artist's Life) - Walzer, op.316

STRAUSS, Johann II: Frühlingsstimmen - Walzer, op.410 (Voices of Spring)

STRAUSS, Johann II: Rosen aus dem Süden (Roses from the South) - Walzer, op.388

STRAUSS, Johann II: Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald - Walzer, op.325 (Tales from the Vienna Woods)

MAHLER: Des Knaben Wunderhorn

MAHLER: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen

HINDEMITH: Symphony in E-flat major

HINDEMITH: Symphonische Metamorphosen über Themen von Weber

SCHUMAN: Symphony for Strings (No.5)

SCHUMAN: Symphony No.3

TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake, op.20. Selections

STRAUSS, Richard: Der Rosenkavalier

BEETHOVEN: Die Weihe des Hauses, op.124 (Consecration of the House)

BEETHOVEN: König Stephan, op.117. Overture

BEETHOVEN: Fidelio, op.72 - Overture

BEETHOVEN: Egmont, op.84. Overture

BEETHOVEN: Leonore Overture No.3, op.72a

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in D minor

SOUSA: Washington Post - March

SOUSA: Semper fidelis - March

SOUSA: The Thunderer - March

WAGNER, Josef: Under the Double Eagle

SOUSA: Hands across the Sea - March

SOUSA: Stars and Stripes forever - March

STRAUSS, Johann I: Radetzky-Marsch, op.228

STEFFE/HOWE: Battle Hymn of the Republic

ZIMMERMAN: Anchors away

ALFORD: Colonel Bogey

TRADITIONAL: British Grenadiers

ARNE: Rule, Britannia

ROUGET DE LISLE: La Marseillaise

BAGLEY: National Emblem - March

SCHUBERT: Symphony No.9 in C major, D944 'Great'

OFFENBACH: Gaîté parisienne

BIZET: L'Arlésienne. Suite No.1

BIZET: L'Arlésienne. Suite No.2

TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony no.2 in C minor, op.17 'Little Russian'

WEBER: Euryanthe - Overture

WEBER: Oberon - Overture

BIZET: Carmen - Suite No.1

BIZET: Carmen - Suite No.2

GRIEG: Peer Gynt - Suite No.1, op.46

GRIEG: Peer Gynt - Suite No.2, op.55

HOLST: The Planets, op.32

BERNSTEIN: Dybbuck

BERNSTEIN: Trouble in Tahiti - An Opera in Seven Scenes

HAYDN: Mass in B-flat major 'Harmoniemesse'

WEBER: Aufforderung zum Tanz, op.65 (Invitation to the Dance)

WEBER: Der Freischütz - Overture

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Snégourotchka (The Snow Maiden). Act III, Dance of the tumblers

TCHAIKOVSKY: Eugen Onegin, op.24 - Waltz

PROKOFIEV: Lt. Kije - Suite, op.60 - Wedding

TCHAIKOVSKY: Eugen Onegin, op.24 - Polonaise

PROKOFIEV: Love for Three Oranges - Suite, op.33a: March

IPPOLITOV-IVANOV: Caucasian Sketches, op.10 - Procession of the Sadar

BORODIN: Prince Igor - Polovtsian Dances: Dance of the Polovtsian Maidens

SHOSTAKOVITCH: The Age of Gold - Suite, op.22a. Polka

TCHAIKOVSKY: Sleeping Beauty, op.66 - Waltz

PROKOFIEV: Lt. Kije - Suite, op.60 - Troika

BORODIN: In the Steppes of Central Asia

GLIÈRE: The Red Poppy, op.70 - Russian Sailor's Dance

TCHAIKOVSKY: Hamlet - Overture-fantasia, op.67a

BRITTEN: Peter Grimes - Four sea interludes, op.33a

BRITTEN: Peter Grimes - Passacaglia, op.33b

BRITTEN: Suite on English folk tunes, op.90

POULENC: Gloria in G major

STRAVINSKY: Symphonie des psaumes (1948 version)

SAINT-SAËNS: Symphony No.3 in C minor, op.78 'Organ'

SAINT-SAËNS: Piano Concerto No.4 in C minor, op.44

FAURÉ: Ballade pour piano et orchestre, op.19

BERNSTEIN: West Side Story (Original Broadway Cast)

BERNSTEIN: Candide

SMITH: The Star-Spangled Banner

SCHUMANN: Manfred Overture, op.115

ROSZA: Theme, Variations, and Finale

R. STRAUSS: Don Quixote, op.35