Leonard Bernstein’s New York Philharmonic recordings offer an irresistible energy and rhythmic “swing”. On the other hand, these remakes have a lot going for them: Christa Ludwig’s fabulous singing of the Jeremiah Symphony’s concluding lament, the brilliant pianism of Lukas Foss in the Second Symphony (“The Masque” is particularly engaging), and a spectacular performance of the Chichester Psalms. There’s also much to be said for the alert playing of the Israel Philharmonic: not as jazzy as in New York, but very accomplished and emphatic, with no holding back at all in the climaxes. DG’s dryer sonics also offer more clarity and timbral definition than Sony’s fuzzier aural frame. Listen, for example, to the crisp sound of maracas pounded on timpani (a marvelous effect!) at the climactic concluding pages of the First Symphony’s second movement. The early Sony recording is more massive, this one leaner yet no less exciting. As remastered these performances sound pretty marvelous, and if pushed to choose single versions of these works, you can’t go wrong here. [12/6/2001]
