[78-L] Bernstein's Rhapsody

[Malcolm Rockwell]

About the only glaring point I find in Levant's interpretation is the 
initial piano attack. Far too loud IMHO. Or was the orchestra just 
lulling us into a false sense of security? Take it away, Oscar!
Mal

*******

On 7/6/2013 8:51 AM, Ryan Wolfe wrote:
> Couldn't agree more over Bernstein's.    Ad it's often touted as a must have version in the books.
>
> That old ca. 1946 Ormandy / Levant set is extremely common on shellac or vinyl and one of the best.    It's got the elements in the right proportions.
>
>
> ________________________________
>   From: Jeff Sultanof <jeffsultanof at gmail.com>
> To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Sent: Saturday, July 6, 2013 10:46 AM
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Bernstein's Rhapsody
>   
>
> Lennie always touted himself as a bit of a jazz expert. This recording
> should have disappeared years ago. Agreed it is horrible.
>
> I've always like the performances of Oscar Levant myself.
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 6, 2013 at 1:43 PM, Malcolm Rockwell <malcolm at 78data.com> wrote:
>
>> Thank you, I fully agree. There are so many clams in the piano
>> performance you coulda made a nice stew (try at 3:18, 3:38, 7:44 and
>> 8:04, for instance). I consider Lennie's version the aural equivalent of
>> "Hamlet" for over emoting.
>> If you want to listen, here it is:
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BceRaRpUnLg
>> Mal
>>
>> *******
>>
>> On 7/6/2013 7:24 AM, David Lennick wrote:
>>> One of the worst performances, for my money, and it's Lenny himself.
>> Bernstein
>>> showed a surprising misunderstanding of things jazzy. Previn's
>> performances are
>>> even more self-indulgent.
>>>
>>> Iturbi started the precedent of conducting the Wrapsidney while mangling
>> the
>>> piano part in 1937.
>>>
>>> dl
>>>
>>> On 7/6/2013 1:19 PM, Malcolm Rockwell wrote:
>>>> Somewhat off topic as this is a 33rpm performance, but who was the
>>>> pianist on Lennie Bernstein's 1960 rendition of the "Rhapsody In Blue"
>>>> on Columbia (rec. Brooklyn, NY on 06/23/59)? "An American In Paris" is
>>>> on the other side. Was it actually LB himself? And if so how does one
>>>> conduct a full orchestra while simultaneously playing the piano parts?
>>>> The piece is complicated enough, already.
>>>> Although many consider this to be the ne plus ultra of the Rhapsody,  I
>>>> still prefer Levant's 78rpm interpretation.
>>>> Mal
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>