• Comprises Bernstein’s complete recordings of composers from Mahler (19 CDs) to Wagner.
• Includes all of Bernstein’s recordings of Mendelssohn, Mozart, Puccini, Schubert, Schumann, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Strauss, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky.
• This repertoire is supplemented by the five American Decca CDs, with performances and analyses of Beethoven’s “Erocia”, Schumann’s Second, Dvořák’s “New World”, Brahms’s Fourth and Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique”
• The Collection is rounded off by original cast selections from Fancy Free and On the Town (1945 / 1946).

CD 01 – 19: MAHLER – The 9 Symphonies, plus the Adagio from the Tenth; the famous Berlin Philharmonic recording of the Ninth; Das Lied von der Erde with James King and Fischer-Dieskau (Decca); Orchestral Lieder with Lucia Popp, Andreas Schmidt, Thomas Hampson

CD 20 – 21: MENDELSSOHN’s “Scottish”, “Italian” and !”Reformation” Symphonies, plus the “Hebrides” Overture

CD 22 – 29: MOZART – the Late Symphonies and other symphonies, Piano Concertos KK450 and K453 with Bernstein as soloist. Two celebrated choral CDs – the Mass in C minor (with fillers) and the Requiem, a recording dedicated to the memory of Bernstein’s wide Felicia.

CD 30 - 31: PUCCINI’s La Bohème, recorded in Rome with the Accademia di Santa Cecilia and a daring young cast

CD 32 – 33: SCHUBERT – Symphonies nos. 5, 8 and 9

CD 34 – 36: SCHUMANN’s Four Symphonies in Bernstein masterly survey plus the Piano Concerto (Frantz) and the Cello Concerto (Maisky)

CD 37 – 39: SHOSTAKOVICH Symphonies nos. 1, 7, 7 and 9 in Bernstein’s benchmark, award-winning performances

CD 40 – 42: Controversial but indispensable SIBELIUS: Symphonies nos. 1, 5, 6 and 7

CD 42: rare RICHARD STRAUSS orchestral Lieder with Monserrat Caballé

CD 44 – 48: STRAVINSKY – recordings of the early ballets and the Symphonies, bursting with life. An exceptional recording of Les Noces, featuring Martha Argerich and Krystian Zimerman

CD 49 – 53: TCHAIKOVSKY – both the controversial broad, late interpretations of the last three symphonies and rarities from the late Seventies

CD 54: Dvorák: Cello Concerto In B Minor, Op.104, B.191 / Bloch: Schelomo (originally intended for Volume One)
Total Playing Time 1:08:05

CD 55 – 58: WAGNER’s Tristan, recorded on Philips in 1981, with Hildegard Behrens and Peter Hoffmann in the title roles. “For the first time, someone dares to perform this music as Wagner wrote it”, said Karl Böhm when he visited Bernstein during rehearsals. The Penguin Stereo Guide wrote: “The surprise is that Bernstein, over-emotional in some music, here exercises restraint to produce the most spacious reading ever put to disc … His rhythmic sharpness goes with warmly expressive but unexaggerated phrasing to give unflagging concentration and deep commitment … The love duet has rarely if ever sounded so sensuous with supremely powerful climaxes.”

CD 59 – 63: The American Decca Recordings: performances and analyses of Beethoven’s “Erocia”, Schumann’s Second, Dvořák’s “New World”, Brahms’s Fourth and Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” in recordings made in 1953 / 1956

CD 64: BONUS CD Selections from 1945 / 1946 recordings of Bernstein‘s Fancy Free and On the Town, with original cast members. (P) 1991 MCA Records Inc.

BERNSTEIN: Fancy Free 22:09
MCA Classics (ex American Decca) CD MCSD 10280
Recorded 13 March 1946 (tr. 1), 2 June 1944 (tr. 2 – 8)
01 Billy Holliday, vocals, Joe Guy, trumpet, Joe Springer, piano, Tiny Grimes, guitar, Billy Taylor, bass, Kelly Martin, drums
02 – 08 Ballet Theatre Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Bernstein

BERNSTEIN: On the Town – Selections
MCA Classics (ex American Decca) CD MCSD 10280
09 On the Town Opening – Lyn Murray Chorus 3:08
10 I Get carried Away – Betty Comden & Adolph Green 3:01
Recorded 14 September 1945 / Lynn Murray Orchestra
11 Lucky To Be Me – Mary Martin 2:29
12 Lonely Town – Mary Martin 3:15
Recorded 6 February 1945 / Tutti Camarata Orchestra
13 I Can Cook Too – Nancy Walker 2:23
14 Ya Go Me – Nancy Walker 2:42
Recorded 1 February 1945 / Leonad Joy Orchestsra
15 On the Town Opening Extended Version 3:42