Search - Bernstein, Tilson Thomas, Lpo :: Bernstein Dances

A good sampling of Bernstein

12/27/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 2 CD set includes a wide variety of Bernstein music, many or all taken from other CDs and put together for a Ballet Revue by John Neumeier. You will be taken from Maestro Bernstein's light-hearted work to the more serious compositions. Truly a "full Bernstein" collection although one could wish for something from Chichester Psalms. There are so many wonderful numbers included on this 2 CD set, that I would recommend it with one major caution. I felt that the rendition of "A Simple Song" by Cheryl Studer was abrasive and not at all like the beautiful song that it should be. Still, I had not heard Bernstein's "Anniversaries" (works for piano played by Sebastian Knauer, apparently written for various people... alas, the notes don't fill me in on these!) and they are little gems, the musical theater selections were pure Bernstein (and showed a bit of where Sondheim came from). Judy Blazer is a delight, Roberta Alexander sounds lovely, and Gidon Kremer, performing in the Serenade after Plato's Symposium was quite enjoyable. My only big disappointment aside from the Studer song is that there is no video (to my knowledge) of this dance performance."