Bernstein Conducts..

This is the seventh “original jacket” collection of Leonard Bernstein in 24-bit remasterings issued by Sony (see the end of this review for a list).Leonard Bernstein recorded Stravinsky’s four most popular ballets -- Firebird (Suite), Petrushka, Sacre du printemps, and Pulcinella (Suite) -- multiple times for Columbia/Sony (1958-1972) and for Deutsche Grammophon (1982-1984).In addition, Bernstein recorded ten additional Stravinsky compositions one time each - evenly distributed between the two labels (see below).The Columbia box ends in 1930 with the Symphony of Psalms.The Deutsche Grammophon box includes several works from the 1940s, ending in 1948 with Mass.Nothing from Stravinsky’s late serial period (Bernstein was a conservative modernist).Most of “Bernstein Conducts Stravinsky” on Columbia has already been remastered in 24-bit by Sony engineers:-- Seven of the nine were included in the 100 CD “Leonard Bernstein Remastered” box, released in 2017.-- The 24-bit remastering of the 1958 New York Philharmonic Sacre du printemps actually dates back to 2013.-- Only two works were newly remastered: Oedipus Rex and the 1972 London Symphony Sacre du printemps.This is the best that Bernstein’s Columbia recordings have ever sounded.The sound may not be as immediate as Deutsche Grammophon’s digital recordings, but the Israel Philharmonic on DG was not as comfortable with Stravinsky’s music as the New York Philharmonic on Columbia, and the younger Bernstein was a considerably more dynamic conductor than he was on DG.My only disappointment with the new Sony box is that it does not include texts or translations for the vocal works (Oedipus Rex is narrated in English, but sung in Latin).Also, early reports indicated that this would be an eight-disc box with two CDs devoted to the audio from Bernstein’s 1973 Harvard lecture on Stravinsky (available on Kultur DVDs), but Sony apparently had second thoughts.COLUMBIA/SONY RECORDINGS (in this box):Ballets:-- Firebird Suite: New York Philharmonic (first recording,1957)-- Petrushka: New York Philharmonic (first recording,1969) + 21 minute talk-- Le Sacre du printemps: New York Philharmonic (1958) + London Symphony (1972)-- Pulcinella Suite: New York Philharmonic (first recording,1960)Concert Works:-- Histoire du soldat Suite: Boston Symphony (RCA mono,1947) *-- Octet for Winds: Boston Symphony (RCA mono,1947) *-- Concerto for Piano & Winds: Seymour Lipkin, New York Philharmonic (1959) *-- Oedipus Rex: Boston Symphony (1972) *-- Symphony of Psalms: London Symphony (1972) *DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON RECORDINGSBallets:-- Firebird Suite: Israel Philharmonic (second recording,1984)-- Petrushka: Israel Philharmonic (second recording,1982)-- Le Sacre du printemps: Israel Philharmonic (third recording,1982)-- Pulcinella Suite: Israel Philharmonic (second recording,1984)-- Scènes de Ballet: Israel Philharmonic (1984) *Concert Works:-- Les Noces: English Bach Festival (1977) *-- Symphony in Three Movements: Israel Philharmonic (1982) *-- Symphony in C: Israel Philharmonic (1984) *-- Mass: English Bach Festival (1977) ** Bernstein’s only recording of these ten compositions (five on Sony, five on DG).BERNSTEIN 24-BIT ORIGINAL JACKET BOXES ON SONYTo date Sony has issued seven “original jacket” collections of Leonard Bernstein in 24-bit remasterings (a total of 132 individual CDs):-- Bernstein Conducts Beethoven (10CDs)-- Leonard Bernstein - The Composer (11 of 25 CDs conducted by Bernstein)-- Mahler: The Complete Symphonies (12 CDs)-- Bernstein Sibelius - Remastered (7 CDs)-- Bernstein Conducts Stravinsky (6CDs) REVIEWED ON THIS PAGE-- multi-composer: Leonard Bernstein - The Pianist (11 CDs)-- multi-composer: Leonard Bernstein Remastered (75 CDs + 25 CDs that are duplicated in the other six boxes)These seven boxes should not be confused with the three volume Leonard Bernstein Complete Edition.LEONARD BERNSTEIN COMPLETE EDITION ON SONY(not the same as the “Leonard Bernstein Remastered Edition”, above.)All of Bernstein’s Columbia recordings in three LP-sized boxes (198 CDs total).Not original jackets, but newly created jackets with black-and-white photos.A mix of 16-bit, 20-bit and 24-bit remasterings:--- Vol.1 Leonard Bernstein: The Symphony Edition - 60 CDs--- Vol.2 Leonard Bernstein Edition - Concertos & Orchestral Works - 80 CDs--- Vol.3 Vocal Works + alternate recordings - 58 CDsVolumes 1 and 3 are inexpensive.Volume 2 is out-of-print and pricey (as of May 2021).There are also a number of super-budget Sony boxes devoted to Bernstein.They are not “original jacket” productions, do not come with program notes, and (with the exception of the Mahler Symphonies) they do not use the most up-to-date 24-bit remasterings.The authentic “original jacket” 24-bit boxes are pictured below.