Review: Bernstein: The Symphony Edition (60 Sony CDs)

No, this is not the complete collection of symphonies that Bernstein recorded for Sony--duplicates have been dumped into another box in this series, which, most likely, is no longer available. Sigh. However, what we do get in this 60-disc set is pretty amazing, for the most part, and if you can find it then get it while you can.

[@stevep7582]

Being born in 1969, I was well aware of Bernstein from a young age thanks to a Mother with excellent taste. She is now gone, but I have shared her love of “Lenny” throughout most of my life. So, being a massive Bernstein you can cover him as often as you want to and I will be happily tuning in.🙂

[@alanlesitsky1300]

Interesting that the Bernstein Kaddish Symphony is coupled with the Bizet Symphony. That is exactly what was presented when Munch gave the American premiere in Boston in 1964. So by accident there is historical precedent.

[@edwardcasper5231]

Bernstein excelled at recording more than a few neglected works that really deserve to be heard.

[@markwoods1951]

I really love your box set reviews. I've actually always hated box sets and have bought very few over the years mainly because I know I'll never have the time to give a 60 cd purchase the listening time it would need. I probably have about half of the music on these CDs but this review will likely spur me on to get another 4 or 5 and quench my curiosity about what else is available. These reviews are invaluable. Thank you!

[@bannan61]

A very rare box to get hold of. I just won an Ebay auction for a second hand set for £53 (around 65 USD). Delighted. Great bargain!!

[@alanmcginn4796]

What an amazing box with so much wonderful stuff. Of course I had the Mahler, The Sibelius, the Haydn, but didnt have prob 30 or so discs so very happy to have picked up this box. Dave, epic video as always. I love these conductor series you are doing...they are fun! Lets do one on Klemp soon???

[@gillesprisse2227]

Hello, here is Gilles from France. When i was a young guy (now i'm 71 years old) one of my close friends was Mireille Dutoit, the sister of Charles. I was very young, i wasn't rich and, as Mireille realized i was a music lover, she often invited me with her in concerts (she had number of free entrances in Parisian concert halls). Once, at the end of a concert directed by Leonard Bernstein (Romeo and Juliet Ouverture, Scherzo de la Reine Maab, Concerto en sol) we were waiting, in the foyer, for the maestro with a glass of champagne while he was showering. When, finally, he arrived, we together howled “bravo” raising our glasses high. Berstein also raised high, his arms, so his bathrobe opened, wide, and we may look at the maestro absolutely naked !

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Great story. Somehow I'm not surprised!

[@DavidJohnson-of3vh]

I already have so much of that. It is great fun. I remember watching that RVW 4th show, and the Berlioz Takes a Trip.

[@davidaiken1061]

More Bernstein boxes, please! I grew up with Lenny's Young People's Concerts and find his recordings, at their best, irresistible. The one thing I don't like about the Symphony Box is the formatting: storing the LP-sized box and retrieving a disc from it is a royal pain. Otherwise this is one of the most desirable conductor collections around. Happy it's still available.

[@secondbanana2]

As always, love your talk, and as usual, how many times have I bought these recordings already? I will be particularly interested if or when you cover the Concerto/Orchestral box, which I couldn't convince myself to buy before it fell out of print. Perhaps Sony could "do a Szell" and make these boxes available again.

[@RichardGreen422]

As it happens, I prefer his second versions of both Beethoven 7 and Tchaikovsky 4. I learned the Beethoven from that recording, and the pizzicato movement of the Tchaikovsky is astonishing--almost crazier than Mravinski.

[@scagooch]

Great that this set got released.

[@cartologist]

And re-released, which is why it still available.

[@fred6904]

Hello Dave. I am one of those who asked you to a talk about this box. Thank you for doing it. Now I would like to ask you to consider to make a talk about the other two Sony boxes and the big DG box too. Best wishes Fred.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That was the plan.

[@mpmternst]

Hurray!

[@fred6904]

@@DavesClassicalGuide I'm looking forward enormously to your talks about them.

[@waynesmith3767]

The first Schubert Great C Major I heard was Bernstein; also the first Schumann -lucky me!

[@jaykauffman4775]

I have a feeling what we will have next will be sets similar to the Szell and Reiner Original jacket versions duplicating the LPs in long boxes

[@nabhatthurakitseree3729]

I am a big fan of Bernstein, but I do have a question for you Dave. I personally love Mahler 8, but I’m not sure which record should I listen to, do you have any recommendations for me for which Bernstein’s Mahler 8 should I listen to?

[@JimmyTheTurtle892]

Just search for "Hurwitz Mahler 8" in the search bar and an older video discussing the work and some recordings should pop up.

[@jakovskok1465]

Fellow Mahler 8 fan here! In one of his earlier videos he discussed Mahler 8 briefly and recommended the Wit recording.

[@DonCYHaute]

If you want a Bernstein performance of it specifically, go with the Salzburg Festival live recording NOT the video one. It's got some significant mistakes, but it still captures his interpretation best.

[@Reithnerbua]

@@kenm.3512 I second this opinion! Bernsteins LSO Mahler 8 is a sensational recording.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

That LP-sized box dimension makes it an automatic no-go. Shelf space and dimensions are a factor.

[@AlexMadorsky]

That box size would probably pretty darn annoying for those who don’t collect records. Luckily I do collect and listen to vinyl, so I’ll find a space for this agglomeration if I ever decide to invest. I don’t have any Bernstein box sets, one day perhaps…

[@MDK2_Radio]

@@AlexMadorsky have you seen the DG reissued their Bernstein/Mahler releases on vinyl in a box?

[@AlexMadorsky]

@@MDK2_Radio I’ve seen it out there. Price is too rich for my blood, particularly considering I own a few of the LPs individually, but I’m sure those who buy it are thrilled with the product.

[@richardsandmeyer4431]

Some of my shelves were custom built for LPs, so I don't object to this box format (which Sony seems to use at random -- the three Bernstein boxes, Gunter Wand recordings, the incomplete Bruno Walter edition issued several years before the complete Columbia Bruno Walter in a "normal" box, etc.). One can always remove the individual CD envelopes from the box and put them on a CD-sized shelf. As you know that's not a perfect solution, but it will solve the dimension problem.

[@wouterdemuyt1013]

I just took them out of the box, and put them all in a row on the shelf. Same with the concerto box and the Walter and Wand. A lot of great music really. Hardly any really bad performances in any of these boxes.

[@williamwhittle216]

I have the Bernstein Remastered box that you rated 5/8. I happen to treasure it, as it includes many performances that I did not have. Would love to hear you talk about it.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

The rating does not reflect the performances, as noted in the review, but the way the collection was put together. I will talk about it, though.

[@peacearchwa5103]

I acquired the Bernstein Symphony Edition box set back in 2011 and share your enthusiasm. For the most part, the sound quality is very good, but the digital transfers of the four Schumann symphonies are noticeably duller and less dynamic than the LP editions, which is unfortunate as the performances are radiant and generally more convincing than the later Vienna recordings. Overall, this set ranks among the very best and most frequently used musical purchases I've made in my lifetime. The LB Symphony Edition was OOP for a couple of years but was re-issued in 2018 in honor of LB's 100th birthday.

[@SamWesting]

As to why this box does not include multiple performances of a symphony, I believe Sony was being cautious, as this was the first large sized box set of Lenny’s recordings & they weren’t sure how well it would sell. By refraining from duplication, they could keep the set at 60 CDs instead of 67, in case this package was a shelf monster. But sales were higher than expected, as the initial run sold out fast. So when 2 sequel volumes were green lighted, Sony thankfully saw an opportunity to do a complete reissue of the Columbia & RCA recordings. And since there were only 47 CDs worth of vocal material, it was decided to supplement that set with the previously unissued symphonies & the RCA material to make the Vocal Box closer in size to the other two. All in all, I think this 3 volume box set of Lenny’s Sony catalog was well done & makes sense when you consider the historical context of how this series evolved over time.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Or they just forgot...

[@miltalive]

Alyhough he never made a studio recording, Bernstein did conduct the Copland Dance Symphony. It;s in the NY Phil Bernstein box. I don't find it to be a very compelling performance.(I imprinted on the Gould recording) The Symphony I wish he had recorded was Barber;s first, Given his Adagio for Strings I've never understood why he didn't do moreB= Barber,

[@markdecker2112]

This was the first of the big box sets I started collecting

[@MahlerHolic1860]

I've been trying to get the MASSIVE DG and Decca set but it's unavailable in the UK. Even that box, with 121 CDs and 36 DVDs is apparently incomplete!

[@SamWesting]

AFAIK, that box set has the complete DG & American Decca catalog on CD. The only DG label items missing is the DVD-audio of Beethoven’s Fidelio, as well as a number of Unitel concert DVDs.

[@claytonfarmer437]

Are there any good biographies of Mendelssohn you might recommend? I don’t know if your book is biographical-if it is, awesome! But I’d love to just read a good biography about Mendelssohn’s life and legacy.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Read the biography "A Life in Music" by R. Larry Todd. It's excellent.

[@thiinkerca]

Apart from his beethoven brahms I am looking fwd to listening to his performance of the Tchaikovsky symphonies.

[@jgesselberty]

Aside from the music, it always amazes me that the producers of CDs are unaware of the size of a CD and how it fits on the shelves that collectors use for them.

[@bbailey7818]

Impossible to store these boxes vertically. The discs WILL fall out of their trays even with the booklet on top.

[@davidwillshire5293]

I had this problem when storing the boxes vertically, but I found that if you place an unwanted magazine as extra space filler on top of the set's booklet before replacing the box top, the added thickness holds the contents in place perfectly. I can put up with the slight inconvenience of these box designs for the wonderful content.

[@vincentzincone8012]

If you had limited funds this would a desert island set!

[@dmntuba]

I don't care how it's packaged as long as it's always in print

[@john1951w]

I chucked my box in the bin and just kept the CDs !!!!!

[@littlejohnuk]

The Bernstein Haydn symphonies have got me into Haydn. I can't listen to any other conductor.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

You should try. No one has all the answers.

[@littlejohnuk]

@@DavesClassicalGuide I'm a prolific reader - if I see someone reading some romantic novel or Edward Marston I don't say `why don't you read Booker short list?` I'm just pleased they're reading. What with that, commuting, working etc I just want to listen to Berstein's Haydn. Should I feel I want to venture further I will do it. Now to finish `seven moons of Maadi Almaida` and as a reward listen to Bernstein's Haydn! :)

[@john1951w]

The only thing that I hate about this set is the stupid packaging. A marvellous collection.