CCMusic.com

Williams' legacy with the Boston Pops is superbly represented in this boxed set which collects the albums made for Philips from his first decade at the helm of the orchestra. Rounding out the set is an intimate project with the unforgettable Jessye Norman: Williams returns to his pianist roots accompanying Norman in songs by Leonard Bernstein, Michel Legrand, Richard Rodgers, Kurt Weill, George Gershwin, Frederick Loewe, and Billy Joel. Jessye also features on a second disc in this collection with the Pops, singing the Great American Songbook. The Philip Classics recordings constitute one of the most salient testimonies of the importance of Williams' Boston Pops tenure, and the most comprehensive showcase of the musical skills, the interpretive acumen, and the stylistic range of conductor John Williams.