The 1953 American Decca Recordings

In the summer of 1953 the 35-year-old Leonard Bernstein made his first recordings of five classics of the symphonic repertoire (Beethoven „Eroica“, Schumann 2, Brahms 4, Dvorák "New World", Tchaikovsky "Pathétique") for the Decca Record Company in America. For the first time these recordings are now appearing on CD.

This exceptional box is further enhanced by the inclusion of the fascinating Listening Guides (Musical Analyses) that Bernstein later recorded for the Book-of-the-Month Club in 1957 to accompany the musical recordings – also a CD first! As well as Bernstein’s golden voice, the Guides include him playing extracts from the works on the piano in fine style.

The cover was done by Olga Koussevitzky, wife of the great conductor (Serge Koussevitzky) who was one of Bernstein’s mentors.

source: http://www.mischamaisky.com/webseries/frameset_detail.htms?areaID=webseries&ID=originalmasters&PRODUCT_NR=4770002&objRank=32