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Celebrating its 80th anniversary season, the NSO here presents its first recording under its new music director. In the U.S., Christoph Eschenbach has previously held music directorships with Houston Symphony, Ravinia Festival, and The Philadelphia Orchestra.
This new release celebrates the memory of John F. Kennedy, and the 50th anniversary of his inauguration as U.S. President, by coupling new and historic recordings by the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C.
CD 1 features Christoph Eschenbach conducting the January 2011 anniversary concert at the Kennedy Center. It includes the world premiere recording of Peter Lieberson’s Remembering JFK (An American Elegy), with famous actor Richard Dreyfuss narrating excerpts from speeches of President Kennedy. Also included are Bernstein’s popular Symphonic Dances from ‘West Side Story’.
CD 2 features excerpts from the previously unreleased 1961 Inaugural Concert under then-Music Director Howard Mitchell, including radio commentary from the original broadcast.
Leonard Bernstein: Fanfare No. 1 for the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy (orch. S. Ramin)
Fanfare No. 1 for the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy (orch. S. Ramin)
Peter Lieberson: Remembering JFK, "An American Elegy"
Remembering JFK, "An American Elegy"
Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story: Symphonic Dances
I. Prologue
II. Somewhere
III. Scherzo
IV. Mambo
V. Cha-cha
VI. Meeting Scene
VII. Cool - VIII. Fugue
IX. Rumble
X. Finale
George Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F major
I. Allegro moderato - Cantabile - Poco meno scherzando
II. Andante con moto
III. Allegro con brio
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
John Stafford Smith: The Star Spangled Banner
The Star Spangled Banner
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
John La Montaine: From Sea to Shining Sea
From Sea to Shining Sea
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
Randall Thompson: The Testament of Freedom
The Testament of Freedom: The God Who Gave Us Life
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
Inaugural Concert Radio Commentary
November 2011
***
“Peter Lieberson's Remembering JFK, which sadly has now become a memorial to the composer as well, sets excerpts from Kennedy's speeches, drily delivered by Richard Dreyfuss, against an orchestral background.”
September 2011
***
“as historical document, Remembering JFK is an absorbing time capsule.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.