Leonard Bernstein was one of the most recorded conductor/composers in history and whereas most of his work was released on CBS (Sony) and Deutsche Grammophon, during the 1970s several notable EMI recordings came out of his association with the Orchestre National de France (including Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique (HIQLP014).

EMI had recorded Orchestre National de France (also known as Orchestre National de l’Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF)) for many years under its chief conductor Jean Martinon. However, largely as a result of the concerts he gave in the 1970s, Bernstein immediately struck up a rapport with the orchestra and the result was magic: “The French orchestra play beautifully for Bernstein, and they also sense the ebb and flow of tempo which he imparts to the music.” as the GRAMOPHONE wrote in 1977.

Recorded on 3 November 1976 at the famous Salle Wagram, Paris.
Produced by John Mordler and engineered by Paul Vavasseur.

Cut at Abbey Road Studios from the original stereo analogue master tapes with the Neumann VMS82 lathe fed an analogue pre-cut signal from a specially adapted Studer A80 tape deck with additional ‘advance’ playback head, making the cut a totally analogue process.

In the original November 1977 review of the EMI LP, JW of the GRAMOPHONE wrote that the:
“…performance can be recommended as a brilliant and colourful encounter with one of Berlioz’s most enjoyable scores” of the last movement JW wrote: “Bernstein makes it thrilling, but not in the frenetic manner which would regard tension as an end in itself, rather than a product of potent feeling. This is a splendidly delivered climax to a work which Bernstein clearly admires. He draws beautifully sharp, clean playing from the orchestra (the brass, in particular, has a cut which exactly suits Berlioz’s scoring); and he is given a comparable sound.”