[78-L] Bernstein's Rhapsody

[David Lennick]

As far as I know, the first "complete" recording was Earl Wild on Signature, 
with Paul Whiteman, and that's a horror as well because of distorted tempos, 
the echo chamber at Radio Recorders, and that goddam chorus. What I can't 
understand is why the record companies, knowing that the piece would require 
two records, would still insist on it being cut to 12 minutes with a filler for 
the 4th side. I don't mind Sanroma that much, and apparently it was recorded 
under very trying circumstances (Tanglewood in July, and bloody hot).

Amendment..the two piano version by the Iturbis may be 4 sides and thus 
complete (except for missing an orchestra). This is not the two-pianos plus 
orchestra abortion they recorded around 1950.

dl

On 7/6/2013 3:01 PM, David Weiner wrote:
> I dunno - I find Levant to be sloppy and surfacey in his performances. I
> also am not crazy about Jesus Maria Sanroma with the Boston Pops - I think
> his RCA is the first complete recording? Rushed and messy. The most
> satisfactory recordings, for me, are more recent - by Earl Wild, Jeffrey
> Siegel and Werner Haas.  Kay Swift rated the Haas recording highly, as
> being most similar to George's playing style.
>
> Dave Weiner
>
> On 7/6/13 2:51 PM, "Ryan Wolfe"<nextset4 at yahoo.com>  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