Released: 1994
Tracks: Candide Overture; Maria; Tonight; Somewhere; Jet Song (Boogie-Woogie); America; Mambo; A Simple Song; Times Square; Glitter and Be Gay; Psalm 108, Verse 2; Make Our Garden Grow; Fancy Free Ballet
Best track: America, of course
Tracks to skip: Tonight, Simple Song; Glitter and Be Gay; Psalm 108, Make Our Garden Grow
This is the first time I’ve listened to this one all the way through. Some of it I really like and some I don’t. I’m not a fan of classical vocals at all. Well, I like stuff if it’s like Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, but I don’t like operatic stuff. So naturally, with the exception of the brilliant America, the music I prefer on this disc is the instrumental stuff. Times Square, Mambo and Fancy Free Ballet are all very good. His instrumental music is just so much more exciting than the vocal stuff. I love all the syncopations Bernstein puts into the music. That, I love.
And of course, I think America is one of the greatest pieces every written. Yeah, there are vocals on there, but it’s all really melodic and the music is incredible. I’m not very fond of the overly Latino accents on it, but I can deal with it just to hear the melodies and the music. Somewhere was a tune that was starting to bore me, but the middle orchestral section was very cool. You know, in regards to the operatic stuff, I mean, obviously Maureen McGovern has a well-trained voice. I just think it’s obnoxious to listen to. All in all, I don’t plan on listening to this whole thing too often, but parts of it I really like. And America just rules.
Rating: 79
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