Bernstein Century - Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites; Sibelius

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
By the time Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic made the recordings featured here, they had been together for more than a decade. There is a lustiness and power to the playing throughout the orchestra. From the lilt and swagger of Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 to the sensuous humor of Grieg's Norwegian Dance--made memorable for oboist Ralph Gomberg's solo playing--Bernstein brought out the best from this strong and virtuosic orchestra. Here, Sibelius's Valse Triste is all grace and elegance. The Swan of Tuonela is superb for it's dreamlike pacing and the marvelous English horn playing. Finlandia makes a perfect finale. All this music is evocative and it remains in motion every moment, however subtly. --Gwendolyn Freed

Bernstein Century - Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites; Sibelius, Music, Edvard Grieg, Jean Sibelius, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, 20th/21st Century Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Keyboard, Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard, Orchestral, Orchestral & Symphonic, Romantic Orchestral Music, Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra
Bernstein Century - Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites, Norwegian Dance, March of Dwarfs/ Sibelius: Valse Triste, Swan of Tuonela, Finlandia
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The Grieg is ordinary, but the Sibelius items are unforgettable
  • Solid
  • Turn it up!
  • Rather Bland for my taste.............
  • Bernstein adds flavor, not power, proves even better
 Bernstein Century - Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites, Norwegian Dance, March of Dwarfs/ Sibelius: Valse Triste, Swan of Tuonela, Finlandia

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Grieg, EdvardGrieg, Edvard | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000C29D
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

  1. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: I. Morning Mood - Allegretto Pastorale
  2. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: II. e's Death- Andante doloroso
  3. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: III. Anitra's Dance- Tempo di Mazurka
  4. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: IV. In The Hall Of The Mountain King - Alla marcia e molto marcato
  5. Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: I. The Abduction Of The Bride. Ingrid's Lament - Allegro furioso- Andante doloroso
  6. Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: II. Arabian Dance- Allegretto vivace
  7. Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: III. Peer Gynt's Return Home- Allegro agitato
  8. Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: IV. Solvejg's Song- Andante - Allegretto tranquillamente
  9. Norwegian Dance, Op. 35, No. 2: Allegretto tranquillo e grazioso
  10. Lyric Suite, Op. 54, No. 4: March Of The Trolls
  11. Valse Triste, Op. 44: Lento
  12. The Swan of Tuonela, Op. 22, No. 3: Andante molto sostenuto
  13. Finlandia, Op. 26 (Tone Poem): Andante sostenuto - Allegro moderato - Allegro

Amazon.com

By the time Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic made the recordings featured here, they had been together for more than a decade. There is a lustiness and power to the playing throughout the orchestra. From the lilt and swagger of Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 to the sensuous humor of Grieg's Norwegian Dance--made memorable for oboist Ralph Gomberg's solo playing--Bernstein brought out the best from this strong and virtuosic orchestra. Here, Sibelius's Valse Triste is all grace and elegance. The Swan of Tuonela is superb for it's dreamlike pacing and the marvelous English horn playing. Finlandia makes a perfect finale. All this music is evocative and it remains in motion every moment, however subtly. --Gwendolyn Freed

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars The Grieg is ordinary, but the Sibelius items are unforgettable.......2007-02-20

Bernstein was a great and devoted Sibelian, on a par with Karajan and Beecham among international maestros. I don't think the reviewers below have much of an idea how exquisite this Swan of Tuonela is, played with total freedom and naturalness; the English horn soloist plays with moving expressivity. Even better is Finlandia, so often a throw away but here performed as if the entire nation of Finland were listening. It's a huge, bravura performance that brings out the brash side of the NY Phil. Bernstein's Valse triste, however, lacks mystery and rpoceeds a bit flat-footedly.

You can find the Finlandia and Swan in other pairings, which might be just as well since Bernstein's Peer Gynt Suite #1 is just a run-through, despite a rousing In the Hall of the Mountain King. It's not in as good sound as the Sibelius items, either.

4 out of 5 stars Solid.......2007-01-17

Why did they have to add Sibelius compositions to this CD? How about more
Grieg??? I like the 20 bit sound on these Bernstein Century CDs. Recommended.

3 out of 5 stars Turn it up!.......2006-02-16

This is a great CD but I can't hear it unless I turn it way WAY up on my car CD or portable CD player. I'm not sure why. I wanted to hear Morning Mood on my morning commute but can't seem to get it loud enough.

3 out of 5 stars Rather Bland for my taste....................2005-01-22

If you enjoy these works of Grieg and Sibelius you might find it helpful to know that the Karajan recording is much better than this one.

5 out of 5 stars Bernstein adds flavor, not power, proves even better.......2001-05-20

We've all heard Grieg's classic Morning or In the Hall of the Mountain King time and again. Bernstein, however, does an incredible job at making the music come alive. Although it does like power at times, I think Bernstein added much more emotion, clearly evident in Ase's Death and Sibelius' Finlandia. And although the recording was made in th 40s, the older recording technique adds a unique flavor, especially to the violins, which seem to scream in Peer Gynt. Although these pieces are by no means masterpieces of human expression, Bernstein has done an incredible job, and I find myself listening to these short little tunes over and over.

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