Description:

This is a concerto album recorded by the young Seiji Ozawa with the prestigious New York Philharmonic, where he studied as an assistant conductor. The soloist Andre Watts had a long-term exclusive contract with CBS (now Sony Classical), and produced 12 albums in 17 years, from his debut recording at the age of 16 to a live recording of a recital in Tokyo in 1980 at the age of 34. This album, backed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra led by Ozawa, is a masterpiece that showcases the springy virtuosity that was characteristic of Watts' youthful days. The bonus track "Central Park in the Evening" by Ives is a rare recording by Bernstein, the music director of the New York Philharmonic, with Ozawa and others as assistant conductors. (C)RS