Bernstein Symphony Recordings Resurface

Over the years, I have bought hundreds of vinyl pressings and CDs of Bernstein/New York Philharmonic recordings.  As an oboist who grew up in the New York area, Harold Gomberg and Engelbert Brenner’s sound and playing styles were my earliest memories of the instruments, and are still the gold standard to me.

There is an exciting new release of symphony recordings on CD.  This is a SIXTY CD collection of nothing but symphonies.  Here is a list of the contents:

• Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9 (Complete)
• Berlioz: Symphony Fantastique
• Bernstein: Symphonies 1-3 (Complete)
• Bizet: Symphony in C
• Blitzstein: The Airborne Symphony
• Brahms: Symphonies 1-4 (Complete)
• Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
• Copland: Symphony for Organ and Orchestra, 3
• Dvorak: Symphonies 7, 8, and 9
• Franck: Symphony in D Minor
• Goldmark: Rustic Wedding Symphony
• Harris: Symphony No.3
• Haydn: Symphonies 82-88; 93-104
• Hindemith: Symphony in E-Flat
• Ives: Symphonies 2 and 3
• Liszt: Faust Symphony
• Mahler: Symphonies 1-9 (Complete)
• Mendelssohn: Symphonies 3, 4, and 5
• Mozart: Symphonies 35, 36, 39, 40, and 41
• Nielsen: Symphonies 2, 3, 4, and 5
• Prokofiev: Symphonies 1 and 5
• St. Saens: Symphony No. 3
• Schubert: Symphonies 5, 8, and 9
• Schumann: Symphonies 1-4 (Complete)
• Schuman: Symphonies 3, 5, and 8
• Shapero: Symphony for Classical Orchestra
• Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
• Shostakovich: Symphonies 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 14
• Sibelius: Symphonies 1-7 (Complete)
• Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 1-6 (Complete)
• Thompson: Symphony No. 2
• Vaughan-Williams: Symphony No. 4

Bernstein, Gomberg and Brenner are all now gone, but in this age of vanishing classical music ensembles and recordings, it’s heartening to see this release.  Lenny was largely responsible for a generation’s awareness of a symphony orchestra, and I’m glad to see that people can still experience those magical recordings today.

This set is available for around $100 – that’s pretty amazing when you consider its contents!