Conductor, composer, educator, pianist: Leonard Bernstein was, without question, the greatest musician America has ever produced. Bernstein described his Serenade, inspired by Plato’s Symposium, as a “series of related statements in praise of love” and considered it his “most satisfying” work. Of particular note is the slow lyrical melody in the first movement, Phaedrus, soon to be immortalised in Maria from West Side Story (Naxos 8.559126). Facsimile, a work by turns acerbic and tender, depicts post-war malaise and the spiritual vacuum of modern man. In the Divertimento for Orchestra, composed for the Boston Symphony on their centenary, Bernstein enjoys himself with many musical puns and breezy humour.
Tracklist
Artist details
Bernstein, Leonard
Serenade
1 I. Phaedrus - Pausanias: Lento - Allegro 06:56
2 II. Aristophanes: Allegretto 04:40
3 III. Eryximachus: Presto 01:35
4 IV. Agathon: Adagio 06:56
5 V. Socrates - Alcibiades: Molto tenuto - Allegro molto vivace 11:11
Facsimile
6 Facsimile 18:38
Divertimento
7 I. Sennets and Tuckets: Allegro non troppo, ma con brio 01:40
8 II. Waltz: Allegretto, con grazia 01:59
9 III. Mazurka: Mesto 01:55
10 IV. Samba: Allegro giusto 01:09
11 V: Turkey Trot: Allegretto, ben misurato 01:46
12 VI. Sphinxes: Adagio lugubre 00:46
13 VII. Blues: Slow blues tempo 01:40
14 VIII. In Memoriam: March, "The BSO Forever" 04:18
