Leonard Bernstein's solemn Kaddish, Symphony No. 3 (1963, revised 1977), and his radiant Chichester Psalms (1965) are among the composer's most durable compositions, and essential works to include in the Milken Archive on Naxos. Because this series has revived important but seldom-heard works on Judaic themes by neglected American Jewish composers, it seems a little odd that such a celebrated figure as
Leonard Bernstein would be included. Yet excluding his music on the grounds of his past fame or future reputation seems equally absurd, especially since
Bernstein contributed substantially to opening up Jewish music and liturgy to the general public, notably in these two works; he also raised the revival of neglected Jewish composers to an art form in his concerts and recordings. In this sense,
Bernstein started the work that series founder Lowell Milken continues, and deserves the special recognition this CD provides.
Gerard Schwarz and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, with soprano
Yvonne Kenny and speaker
Sir Willard White, present Kaddish with dignity, gravity, and serenity; and with treble
Michael Small, deliver the Chichester Psalms with conviction, rhythmic vitality, and delicate beauty. Naxos provides fine sound, though at lower dynamics, the performers seem slightly recessed and unfocused in the overly resonant space.