Bernstein Conducts Beethoven

“No composer has ever lived who speaks so directly to so many people”, said Leonard Bernstein of Ludwig van Beethoven. The great German composer, born in 1770 – 250 years ago in 2020 – had a gift for communication through music that links him directly to Bernstein, one of the 20th century’s great musical communicators. This is nowhere more clear than in a work like the Ninth Symphony, with its rousing message of universal brotherhood. Bernstein was also a significant interpreter of Beethoven’s music, and recorded much of it multiple times. Celebrating Beethoven’s 250th anniversary and following Bernstein’s centenary in 2018, Sony Classical is proud to re-release Bernstein’s first recorded cycle of Beethoven symphonies, made with the New York Philharmonic between 1958 and 1964. Also included are a collection of Beethoven overtures, first released in 1970, and the Missa solemnis recording of 1960. All recordings are newly or recently remastered. Soloists include Martina Arroyo in the Nin