Bernstein: The Complete Naxos Recordings

Marin Alsop was one of the first women to establish herself in the "male profession" of conducting. Yes, she was the first woman ever to be appointed chief conductor of a world-class orchestra. She was also the first woman to conduct the world-famous Last Night of the Proms, which caused a great deal of sensation all over the world. Her story began when she saw Leonard Bernstein conducting as a child. Spontaneously she decided: "That's what I want to do too!" And she could not understand why so many people tried to talk her out of this decision, with the reasoning: "Women don't conduct orchestras". Ultimately she came under the care of Leonard Bernstein, who accepted Marin Alsop as a student at Tanglewood without prejudice and trained her. To this day, Marin Alsop has remained faithful to the music of her former mentor, whose importance as a composer (often unfairly) today stands in the shadow of his importance as a conductor. Marin Alsop has (alongside the composer himself) recorded the only complete cycle of Leonard Bernstein's symphonies, which is also included in this fabulous box set along with Bernstein's orchestral works, as well as his masses and various Bernstein world premiere recordings that had never been heard before. In addition, the box set contains Georg Wübbolt's ICMA Award-winning DVD documentary Larger than Life as a bonus disc. Marin Alsop will also guest in Germany in 2018, among other places at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, and will celebrate Leonard Bernstein in his anniversary year.