Leonard Bernstein, WP Beethoven. 9 Symphonies (1980) [japan 2015] (flac 24 96)

"Conducting the Wiener Philarmoniker 's always been something absolutely unique, starting from my debut in Salisburgo after studying in Vienna. Wondeful string section, great musical tradition and deep understanding of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss' music are typical of this group. It's a true joy making music with them. I am always very grateful when I conduct the Wieners at Musikverein or Staatsoper. It's like coming home." (Claudio Abbado)

Grover Washington, Jr., has long been one of the leaders in what could be called rhythm & jazz, essentially R&B-influenced jazz. Winelight is one of his finest albums, and not primarily because of the Bill Withers hit "Just the Two of Us." It is the five instrumentals that find Washington (on soprano, alto, and tenor) really stretching out. If he had been only interested in sales, Washington's solos could have been half as long and he would have stuck closely to the melody. Instead he really pushes himself on some of these selections, particularly the title cut. A memorable set of high-quality and danceable soul-jazz.

Hailed as one of the most important musicians in America in the 20th-Century, legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein conducts the momentous collection of Beethoven’s nine symphonies in this impressive 6 CD boxset for Sony Classics. Recorded whilst Bernstein was at the peak of his musical capabilities during his famous spell as director of Music at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Beethoven symphonies provide the listener with an array of emotions, from the serious nature of the Fifth Symphony to the Third ‘Eroica’ Symphony, to the Fourth Symphony ‘Pastorale’ and to the passionate ninth, the ‘Chorale’. This collection of works by the most well-known classical music composer of the most famous and important works in classical music makes this boxset a ‘must-have’ for the classical music lover.

Here's a set of the best of Mozart's symphonies performed by the well-respected Vienna Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein. These are reissues of recordings made in the 1980s, and although half were done in the studio and half were live, there is really no significant difference in sound.

Tout commence un soir de janvier 1937, à Boston où le chef Dimitri Mitropoulos achève son deuxième séjour par la Symphonie en ut de Schumann. Invité à suivre répétitions et concert, l’étudiant Bernstein sent, au cours de l’Adagio espressivo, son « coeur éclater dans un mélange terrible de fierté et d’abattement ». Conçue au fond du gouffre, achevée au retour de la lumière en 1846, cette Symphonie no 2 le poursuivra longtemps. Bernstein chef d’orchestre est né par elle, commençons de même [CD I, 1-4]. L’influence de Mitropoulos ne s’arrête pas là. Une saison plus tôt, le chef grec avait soufflé Boston en dirigeant du piano le Concerto no 3 de Prokofiev, numéro de voltige que son admirateur reproduira en substituant Ravel à Prokofiev.