Krystian Zimerman is playing 'The Age of Anxiety' for this recording as a tribute to Leonard Bernstein's centenary, fulfilling a request Bernstein made to him years ago.
Interpretation
Leonard Bernstein's approach to music encouraged Krystian Zimerman to be daring with his interpretations and try out new musical ideas.
Interpretation
Krystian Zimerman notes that Leonard Bernstein's performances were always unique, with no fixed 'Bernstein interpretation,' making rehearsals difficult as he could make dramatic changes during a concert.
Composition History
The symphony is based on W.H. Auden's Pulitzer Prize-winning epic poem of the same title, which reflects the post-World War II atmosphere of inner turbulence and disillusionment.
Composer Biography
Leonard Bernstein received criticism for 'The Age of Anxiety' and was reportedly reluctant to support it, even considering rewriting parts after conductor Koussevitzky disliked them.
Performer Biography
Krystian Zimerman, the pianist on this recording, met Leonard Bernstein in the mid-1970s and was invited to play on Bernstein's recording of Stravinsky's Les Noces.
Compositional Technique
Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 2 'The Age of Anxiety' is unusual for integrating a solo pianist into a symphony orchestra and blending classical idioms with jazz sounds.
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