Sony Classical
's 1997 reissue of
Leonard Bernstein
's own early '60s recordings of his orchestral versions of some of his theater and film music was part of its
Bernstein Century
series and was an especially felicitous example of the virtues of CD repackagings. The
"Candide"
overture has become one of the composer's most celebrated efforts; the symphonic dances from
West Side Story
present an efficient precis of the entire score; the symphonic suite from
On the Waterfront
gives an organized form of the only film music
Bernstein
ever wrote; and
Fancy Free
was, of course, his first significant work for the stage.
was music director of
the New York Philharmonic
at the time the recordings were made, the orchestra had premiered some of the works, and the match of conductor and orchestra was perfect. Sonic improvements give the CD a depth and brilliance not heard on the original LPs. The result is outstanding. ~ William Ruhlmann