Bizet: Symphony No. 1; Offenbach: Gaite Parisienne [Import]

If you've been on a consistent diet of "heavy" works lately, the Bizet Symphony just might offer the best chaser. Its winsome, light, bracing qualities can produce a sigh and a warm smile. And the performance that most immediately and best puts one in the right mood is Bernstein's. From the first to the last emphatic chord, his joie de vivre approach is in evidence. It is there in the quieter as well as the boisterous moments, and for me, makes this the interpretation of choice, despite some pretty stiff competition from the likes of Beecham, Munch, Ansermet and Stokowski. After Bernstein, I prefer Munch and Stokowski, however, the latter's performance on cd does not sound as good as his same performance on cassette or lp. Beecham, of course, has been highly praised, and he does offer a very well played account, but I find he does not convey consistently the kind of elan Bernstein does. Aside from the symphony, Bernstein gives us exciting and colorful renditions of Offenbach's Gaite Parisienne and Orpheus in the Underworld and Suppe's Beautiful Galatea Overture. A fine investment overall for your musical "sweet tooth".

Bernstein's performance of Offenbach's Gaite Parisienne is my guilty pleasure. Yes, the Bizet is wonderful, but I grew up with the old Arthur Fiedler recording of the Offenbach....it was the first piece of "classical" music that I remember hearing as a kid. I may collect complete sets of the Beethoven piano sonatas now, but it's Gaite Parisienne that re-kindles those long lost moments of childhood innocence and discovery.

Bernstein outdoes Fiedler in interpretation, making this music sound better than it actually is. Oh hell - it's wonderful - and Lenny always was good with the schmaltz!

The Bizet and Suppe and great too - this disc, selling for about 5 bucks on amazon - will bring immense enjoyment to most folks who need a break from Mahler, Beethoven string quartetes, and Alkan's piano concerto.

Pour yourself a glass of wine, grab a loved one, and enjoy! The 1960s Columbia sound is OK, with its usual limitations. Still, I wouldn't trade this recording for all the Telarcs in the catalogue. There's joy in these tracks (er, bits). Doubt it? Try track 5 - the track 12, the famous Can-Can. If you can't see Lenny swaying his hips and smiling while conducting, you've been listening to WAY too much Bruckner.

(Was there any other conductor whose conducting could put a smile on your face? - God love ' im.)

OOooo-La-La!

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This surely must be the finest realization of Bizet's popular Symphony currently available. Lenny and the NYPO bring a robust Beethovenian reading to the work--which can stand a little masculine vigor--(as opposed to feminine lightness). The piece is a true joy.

The less said about the Offenbach and Suppé, the better: the works are absurdly cartoonishly bumptious; personally, I would never listen to such cheesy stuff.

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