Sony Classical Releases Limited Edition 60-CD Set to Honor Leonard Bernstein

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Leonard Bernstein: The Symphony Edition, a limited edition 60-CD set that includes all of Bernstein's definitive symphonic recordings from 1953 to 1976 -- 57 of them with the New York Philharmonic -- has been released by Sony Classical in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of his death.

The set includes the complete symphonies of Beethoven, Mahler, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky; Schumann's four completed symphonies; and the milestone recordings of Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, Ives's Second Symphony, and Haydn's Paris and London Symphonies. Other featured composers are Goldmark, Nielsen, Dvo?ák, and Schubert, along with Copland, David Diamond, Harris, Blitzstein, William Schuman, Randall Thompson, and Bernstein's own three symphonies.

Included in the box set are 60 photographs of Bernstein and a large-format book with extensive essays by Klaus Geitel, a prominent German journalist, and Wolfgang Stähr. The list price is $149.98.

Leonard Bernstein, a noted composer and an inspiring educator, was Music Director of the New York Philharmonic from 1958 to 1968, and Laureate Conductor until his death in 1990. He is widely acknowleged to be one of the 20th century's greatest conductors.

Following is a complete list of the CDs:

Ludwig van Beethoven, Nos. 1-9

KARL GOLDMARK, Rustic Wedding Symphony

CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS, No. 3

Hector Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique

Roy Harris, No. 3

Franz Schubert, Nos. 5, 8, and 9

Leonard Bernstein, No. 1, Jeremiah, No. 2, The Age of Anxiety, No. 3, Kaddish

Joseph Haydn, Nos. 82-88 and 93-104

Robert Schumann, Nos. 1-4

Georges Bizet, Symphony in C

PAUL HINDEMITH, Symphony in E flat