It is the centennial of Leonard Bernstein

[BeyondGeography]

A good excuse to post this excellent documentary by Howard Goodall:

“One man brilliantly walked the tightrope between classical and popular music, long before ‘crossover’ became a buzzword.”

Lenny was a musical giant; American classical music was truly blessed to have him. I remember the first time I heard Sibelius’s 5th Symphony, at Tower Records on the Upper West Side, a Bernstein interpretation that I immediately snapped up. I wish I had appreciated him more when he was still here. But I was too young, especially in terms of my musical tastes. Now I watch clips of him conducting with the Vienna Philharmonic and I can’t believe what I missed. But there is so much more to him than that, and Goodall (there is no bigger fan of West Side Story, as you’ll see) captures it well. There are worse ways to pass an hour.

[regnaD kciN]

1. Not to make you jealous...

...but I got to see him live, from the front row at Boston's Symphony Hall, in December 1972. Beethoven's "Pastorale" and Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex."

[Voltaire2]

2. I attended many of his young peoples concerts

and many of his regular concerts.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Now I am jealous

What he did to promote great music in this country was nothing short of heroic.

[Voltaire2]

4. I also got to see Stravinsky conduct rite of spring.

My dad was a classical music nut.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Very cool...I am taking my son to see Beethoven #9 next month

Dudamel will be in town, so that will help with the entertainment value. He finds me slightly eccentric, holed up with my classical cd’s, but he’s on board for this one at least.

Dudamel will also conduct Chichester Psalms, so Lincoln Center is obviously in Lenntennial Mode.