Included on this six-disc box are all of
Leonard Bernstein's Mozart recordings for Deutsche Grammophon -- the eight late symphonies, the Clarinet Concerto, the C minor Mass, and the D minor Requiem -- along with his Decca recording of the Piano Concerto No. 15. Whether played by the
Wiener Philharmoniker or the
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, the tone here is consistently rich and lush, the textures thick and creamy, the blend warm and sumptuous, and the tempos big and broad. In
Bernstein's interpretations, lines are highlighted, harmonies padded, rhythms heavy, and forms massive. Needless to say, the Viennese and Munich musicians play with style, class, and polish; the soloists are all first-rate; and Deutsche Grammophon's sound is clean, strong, and vivid.