Leonard Bernstein's New York

Composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein's three Broadway musicals set in his beloved Big Apple—On the Town, Wonderful Town, and West Side Story—are paid tribute in Hart Perry's Leonard Bernstein's New York, which features members from the original casts (including Sono Osato, George Gaynes, and Allyn Ann McLerie), as well as choreographer-directors (such as Harold Prince) and critics (such as Frank Rich) who assess each show both in terms of Bernstein's career and the changing character of the city. On the performance side, topnotch talent (including Dawn Upshaw, Mandy Patinkin, Donna Murphy, Audra McDonald, Judy Blazer, and Richard Muenz) sing 13 of the most notable numbers, impeccably accompanied by the Orchestra of St. Luke's under Eric Stern's incisive direction. One might quibble with the selections—Wonderful Town's “Ohio” is only mentioned, not performed, and West Side Story is represented by only two numbers (“One Hand, One Heart,” and “Tonight”). But what's here remains choice, underscoring the fact that Bernstein was as influential in his contributions to American musical theatre as he was in his work as a “classical” composer and music director of the New York Philharmonic. Presented on an extra-less disc in rich and full Dolby Digital stereo, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)