CD REVIEW: Bernstein: Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, Facsimile, West Side Story Dances, Divertimento
American Record Guide, March-April 1999 v62 i2 p97(2)
Bernstein: Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, Facsimile, West Side Story Dances, Divertimento City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Jarvi, conductor)
Virgin 45295 (EMI) 68 minutes
Review By Justin R. Herman.
The British critics have had a field day with this disc, praising it to the highest. Most US writers tend to take those reviews with a grain of salt; but, Hallelujah, they're not wrong this time. The Birminghammers really swing under Jarvi, and the important clarinet and piano solos are well performed by Sabine Meyer and Wayne Marshall.
Written for Woody Herman (no relation), the 1955 Prelude, Fugue and Riffs is just super, sounding like the carefully controlled improvisation I suspect the composer had in mind. Facsimile, a work I find somewhat dry and dull, has more life than usual, and I can tolerate its 20 minutes better here than on any other recording. The Symphonic Dances billed here as the original 1960 version (though how it differs from what is "normally" heard is not explained) is comparable only to the San Francisco/Ozawa. Divertimento has considerably more humor in it than Bernstein's Israel Philharmonic version, plus an immeasurable sonic advantage. Speaking of sorties, the team of David R. Murray and Mike Hatch have given us a digital spectacular of great range and excellent balance. With Bernstein's appealing music, this can't be beat.
Bernstein: Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, Facsimile, West Side Story Dances, Divertimento City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Jarvi, conductor)
Virgin 45295 (EMI) 68 minutes
Review By Justin R. Herman.
The British critics have had a field day with this disc, praising it to the highest. Most US writers tend to take those reviews with a grain of salt; but, Hallelujah, they're not wrong this time. The Birminghammers really swing under Jarvi, and the important clarinet and piano solos are well performed by Sabine Meyer and Wayne Marshall.
Written for Woody Herman (no relation), the 1955 Prelude, Fugue and Riffs is just super, sounding like the carefully controlled improvisation I suspect the composer had in mind. Facsimile, a work I find somewhat dry and dull, has more life than usual, and I can tolerate its 20 minutes better here than on any other recording. The Symphonic Dances billed here as the original 1960 version (though how it differs from what is "normally" heard is not explained) is comparable only to the San Francisco/Ozawa. Divertimento has considerably more humor in it than Bernstein's Israel Philharmonic version, plus an immeasurable sonic advantage. Speaking of sorties, the team of David R. Murray and Mike Hatch have given us a digital spectacular of great range and excellent balance. With Bernstein's appealing music, this can't be beat.
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