Bernstein / Cooperstock - Leonard Bernstein: Complete Solo Works for Piano - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Leonard Bernstein was certainly not surrounded by an aura of aloofness. He enjoyed his immense popularity, although he never consciously attempted to be Incheverybody's darlingInch and to be hailed as InchLennyInch by everyone on the street. His parents had officially named him Louis, but tended to call him Leonard. Serge Koussevitsky, his teacher and elder friend- with whom he not only shared an outstanding musical talent but also an Eastern European Jewish family background- called him Lenyusha. This is being presented in honor of Bernstein's 100th birthday. A high caliber artist roster led by Wayne Marshall is playing most of Bernstein's Piano and chamber music which is not at all known to most connoisseurs of his music. A great part of these short pieces have until now only been available on vintage albums, making this even more special.

The GIA Composer's Collection seeks to bring together into one place the master works by some of the most respected Wind Symphony composers of all time. Stunningly performed by the North Texas Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene Corporon, this series also includes extensive liner notes about the composers and their contributions to the Wind Band. Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) is perhaps the first American-born composer to achieve worldwide fame and recognition, but as Ned Rorem pointed out InchHis books and lectures have re-shaped the way America listens, and his mastery of keyboard and podium has defined the notion of American performance.Inch This stellar recording of Bernstein's great works features Eugene Migliaro Corporon directing the North Texas Wind Symphony, giving exceptional life to this wonderful music, including Overture to Candide and JFK Fanfare. This recording is spectacular on every level-a showcase of great music recorded by one of the great wind symphonies of our time.

Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo was also a great pianist. This album offers listeners the chance to see the composer under this light. The works are performed here by pianist Marco Sollini. Marco Sollini, who has been lauded by critics and fellow musicians for his energy, technique, and sincerity, has performed throughout Europe, United States, Latin America, Indonesia and Africa. In addition to his work as a recitalist, he has performed with many orchestras, including the Dohnányi Symphony Orchestra and Budapest Concert Orchestra (MÁV), and the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra. He has broadcast for RAI (Italian radio), Radio Vaticana, Tunisian National Radio, and Serbian Radio and Television, among others. He is particularly interested in rare and unpublished Italian works and has released the premiere recordings of the complete piano works of Puccini, Giordano, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Bellini, Verdi, Persiani and Offenbach. The German Rossini Society magazine has called his Chandos Rossini piano recordings 'an exemplary edition'.