In remembrance of his 90th birthday Deutsche Grammophon releases a magnificent 6-DVD-BOX with Maestro Leonard Bernstein conducting and talking about the work of Ludwig van Beethoven.
From splendid places in Vienna and Amsterdam, Leonard Bernstein conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam.
This ambitious and accomplished box includes all of Ludwig van Beethoven´s nine symphonies, the piano concertos with Krystian Zimerman, the monumental Missa solemnis and overtures together with the string quartet Op.131, excerpts from “The Creatures of Prometheus”, the choral fantasy op. 80 and Leonard Bernstein gives engaging introductory remarks on the programmes.
Leonard Bernstein says about these recordings from the late 70ies and 80ies, all directed by Humphrey Burton, that there is “no single body of work in the universe of orchestral music that is in any way comparable to this one.”
“I offer [this cycle] to all music-loving ears as a testament of faith and of my most profound reactions to this greatest of all composers." (Leonard Bernstein)
“Conducted with intense dedication and soaring spirits by Mr. Bernstein, these recordings are superb, both visually and aurally.” (The New York Times)
6-DVD-BOX (7 discs) in 5.1 DTS Surround Sound (also available separately)
