Review: Bernstein's Often Surprising Sony Vocal Music Box

[@richardsandmeyer4431]

After Sony had printed the booklet and the "wallets" (paperboard envelopes) for disks 1-56, they discovered that they had had two discs worth of Bernstein recordings not included in the earlier boxes. So Sony included them with the third box but didn't number them or list them in the booklet. In my copy of the box, they were in separate (unnumbered) wallets and simply placed on the outside the box (but inside the plastic wrap). They were 1) Beethoven Symphony #7 (NYPO, 1958 recording), and 2) Bernstein "On the Town" (musical comedy in two acts, recorded 1960). As a "completist" I appreciate Sony's effort to be complete even if it must have been slightly embarrassing for them to resort to this kind of packaging for these two discs.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I remember that too.

[@dmntuba]

I truly luv your enthusiasm while reading/sharing the contents of the box👍

[@fred6904]

Dear Mr Hurwitz! Thank you so very much for making this talk about the third Bernstein Sony box. Best wishes Fred. 😀👏👍🏅🇺🇲

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@fred6904]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Now I am waiting for the DG box 😉🙏

[@SamWesting]

One thing these massive box sets prove is that Lenny did indeed have carte blanche to record nearly anything he wanted. As a result, we get to hear mid-century period pieces like Second Hurricane (Copland) & Airborne Symphony (Blitzstein) that are not likely to ever be recorded again. But if you’re really into obscure stuff, you should check out Bernstein Live, a 10 CD set of NYPO radio broadcasts, most of which feature pieces that Lenny did not record for Columbia or DG.

[@pauloqueiroz9611]

Do you see any possibility of this box being re-issued? It’s the one I missed from Sony, which I think were his best period, with some DG exceptions of course

[@cartologist]

I agree the Bernstein Mahler 2nd makes me cringe. Mahler 5th Adagietto is from Robert F. Kennedy’s funeral at St. Patrick’s in June 1968, by request of the widow.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Why, oh why? is Sony making these boxes LP sized?

[@raphaelfournier8273]

So true abput the way priests all sound the same in their sermonets. Gives way to many a nice (or not so nice) humoristic exploitation.

[@cartologist]

In the US, ministers, priests and rabbis each have homiletics requirements in seminary. Hence, the homogeneity across the faiths, at least here. In my town, have interfaith Thanksgiving services (Catholic, Baptist, friendly Lutherans, Unitarians, and occasionally Mormons, with my temple’s rabbi) and you are exactly right.