CD REVIEW – THE MAESTRO
VERY BEST OF LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Deutsche Grammophon 4865491 [2:30:0]

Leonard Bernstein (1918-90) was one of the very best conductors and, arguably, the most charismatic of his generation. This well filled 2-CD set of his greatest recordings ties in with the release of 'Maestro', the acclaimed Netflix biographical movie about his life.

Among the eminently approachable "heavier" classical excerpts, there are several pieces that light music devotees will find instantly appealing. These include Bernstein's own compositions: Candide: Overture, West Side Story Symphonic Dances: Finale, "Maria" and "Somewhere" featuring singers José Carreras and Marilyn Horne respectively, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with Bernstein as the scintillating pianist, Dvorak's Slavonic Dance No.8 and Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No.1.

Other composers are Mahler, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann and Tchaikovsky (with the longest track, from his 'Pathétique' Symphony), largely represented by popular works. As well as the conductor's self-named orchestra for West Side Story, others involved are the London Symphony, BBC Symphony, Wiener Philharmoniker, Los Angeles, New York and Israel Philharmonics. Members of some of these orchestras and from several more play on the album's last track, which comes from the famous recording of Beethoven's 'Choral' Symphony, joyously performed in East Germany on Christmas Day 1989, to mark the fall of the ill-famed Berlin Wall.

This release is a celebration of a prodigious talent and which, with its varied content, will find a place in many collections. It would make an ideal introduction for a classical music novice. At the time of writing, obtainable online at what nowadays is a budget price.

© Peter Burt, December 2023