The Lulu Suite accounts for nearly half of this well-filled CD, and it is very good indeed. Much of it is voluptuously beautiful music and Levine and his players sound as though they are enjoying both it and the spacious acoustic of the Manhattan Center after spending so many evenings in the comparatively confined orchestral pit of the Met. Fleming sings Lulu's song thoughtfully and is moving in Geschwitz's poignant farewell... The ostinato second movement of the Lulu Suite is vividly done, and there is a tangible chill at the beginning of the final scene... These are sumptuous readings on the whole, with exquisite quiet playing, most beautiful string sound and massive bass-rich textures...
-- Gramophone [6/1996]
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The Three Orchestral Pieces form Berg’s overt homage to Mahler, whose spirit hovers over the apocalyptic concluding march in particular. Levine has previously recorded them with the Berlin Philharmonic, but that account is easily outclassed here, thanks to some fine playing by the Met Orchestra.
