Search - Leonard Bernstein, Jennie Tourel, Philippe Entremont :: Bernstein Century - Symphony No. 1 "Jeremiah" & Symphony No. 2 "The Age of Anxiety"

Among Lenny's Less Known but Highly Respectable Works!

Shota Hanai | Torrance, CA | 09/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Leonard Bernstein, an American icon and perhaps the best known conductor, composer, and music teacher from the New World, may be famous for his Broadway shows such as the entertaining out-of-the-war feeling "On the Town", and the fun and at the same time brooding story of New York's star-crossed "West Side Story". Give him some time though if you only know the "American" side of the composer.

He never threw away his Jewish heritage, and this first symphony "Jeremiah" enclosed in the CD is one of the prime examples of witnessing Lenny's musician expression as a Jew.

I love this symphony because despite it's musical complexity easy enough to tell it's 20th century genre, the sheer tragic theme of this piece is strong enough to make me bow down in tears. The piece is in three movements; first tells of Jeremiah's pleading to the people, the nailbiting second the corruption done by the people, and the third the lamentation of Jeremiah to Jerusalem, "ruined, pillaged, and dishonored after his desparate efforts to save it". Ms. Jennie Tourel sang brilliantly in the movement.



The second symphony "The Age of Anxiety" is another example of Lenny's serious and musically dark and modern side of music. Based on the poem by W.H. Auden with the same name, it will take you through this spiritual and moral journey.



I was quite charmed with Lenny's two easy song cycles "I Hate Music!" and "Four Recipes". And once again, kudos to Ms. Tourel. Just take a listen and you'll feel like you're a little innocent child again. The songs are as elementary and bright as a Mother Goose rhyme."

No, this isn't going to be another West Side Story......

Cory | Virginia | 07/14/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"....or On the Town or Candide or any other famous broadway/operettas you've heard from it. But it's not bad. Bernstein has a completely different approach to his symphonic works then from his others you know of. I really felt the music in the first symphony, Jeremiah, fit the Lamentations chapter of the bible and the soprano in the final movement only added to the passion. Age of Anxiety was in an awkward format for a symphony, and seemed to be more of a piano concerto/work then a symphony. If I hated music, I would still hate it after hearing Bernstein's I Hate Music. These are just a few 'ditties' he drew up for children which very in style and speed. La Bonne Cuisine was funny (and fast), but you have to follow along in the book to get the humor because the soprano sings so fast. Recording was great. None of this music really stands out among my collection, but it's is still good music."

LB's best symphony--mournful, ironic, jazzy

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 01/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After winning the Pulitzer Prize for his "Jeremiah" Sym., Bernstein remained in top form as a composer throughout the late Forties and Fifties. His 'Age of Anxiety' Sym. #2 is refeshingly jazzy, and Philippe Entremont plays as if to the manner born in the long piano solos. Both of LB's other symphonies capture a specifically Jewish-Biblical significance that meant much to the composer but hasn't worn well. The Age of Anxiety is more like his Ballet Fancy Free, a comment, wry and often witty, on modern city life. It captures Auden's mournful sophistication perfectly, even if you haven't read the poem that inspired the music.



One could ask for no better recording--LB's remake on DG is a contender but not the equal of this. Playing and recording are perfect. The two humorous song cycles sung by LB's great friend Jennie Tourel are a mere fillip to a CD that's stingy on timing but a gem otherwise."