Leonard Bernstein: An American In Paris - Orchestre National de France (7 CDs)

This 7 CD set is the fruit of the love affair that developed in Paris between Leonard Bernstein and the Orchestre National de France in the 1970s. Beside long-admired studio recordings, featuring Mstislav Rostropovich and Alexis Weissenberg among the soloists, it presents live performances completely new to the catalogue: a 1975 programme to celebrate Ravel's centenary - with Bernstein himself as soloist in the G major piano concerto - and orchestral suites taken from two of Bernstein's most celebrated and brilliant works, both infused with jazz: the film score On the Waterfront and the landmark Broadway musical West Side Story.

- Disc 1 -
1 Hector Berlioz 1803-1869
2 Symphonie Fantastique
3 I. Rêveries - Passions
4 Il. Un Bal
5 III. Scène Aux Champs
6 IV. Marche Au Supplice
7 V. Songe D'une Nuit Du Sabbat

- Disc 2 -
1 Hector Berlioz 1803-1869
2 Harold en Italie, Op. 16
3 I. Adagio - Allegro Ma Non Troppo (Harold in the Mountain)
4 II. Allegretto (Procession of Pilgrims)
5 III. Allegro Assai - Allegretto (Serenade)
6 IV. Allegro Frenetico (Orgy of the Brigands)

- Disc 3 -
1 Darius Milhaud 1892-1974
2 La Création Du Monde, Op. 81
3 Saudades Do Brasil, Op. 67 (Excerpts)
4 VII. Corcovado
5 IX. Sumaré
6 VIII. Tijuca
7 XI. Larenjeira
8 Le BÅ“uf Sur Le Toit, Op.58

- Disc 4 -
1 Robert Schumann 1810-1856
2 Cello Concerto in a Minor, Op.129
3 I. Nicht Schnell
4 II. Langsam
5 III. Sehr Lebhaft
6 Ernest Bloch 1880-1959
7 Schelomo: Hebrew Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra

- Disc 5 -
1 Sergei Rachmaninov 1873-1943
2 Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
3 I Allegro Ma Non Tanto 17.33
4 II Intermezzo (Adagio)
5 III Finale (Alla Breve)
6 Maurice Ravel 1875-1937
7 Rehearsal of Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G
8 Rehearsal of la Valse
9 Rehearsal of Shéhérazade

- Disc 6 -
1 Maurice Ravel 1875-1937
2 Alborada Del Gracioso
3 Shéhérazade Trois Poèmes Pour Chant Et Orchestre Sur Des Vers de Tristan Klingsor
4 Asie
5 La Flûte Enchantée
6 L'indifférent
7 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G
8 Allegramente
9 Adagio Assai
10 Presto
11 Tzigane for Violin and Orchestra

- Disc 7 -
1 Maurice Ravel 1875-1937
2 La Valse
3 Boléro
4 Leonard Bernstein 1918-1990
5 On the Water Front, Symphonic Suite
6 Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
7 Prologue (Allegro Moderato)
8 "Somewhere" (Adagio)
9 Scherzo (Vivace E Leggiero)
10 Mambo (Meno Presto) & Cha-Cha (Andantino Con Grazia)
11 "Cool", Fugue (Allegretto)
12 Finale (Adb25:B61Agio)