Comments on: Leonard Bernstein’s New York Years

By: William

William — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:21:02 +0000

I remember where I was when I found out Lennie had died: I was an undergrad running late to quartet rehearsal. When I arrived I found my three quartet-mates sitting outside the recital hall, smoking (not unusual). We were going to rehearse my second quartet which we were going to premiere in a few days on a programme with some Barber and Schostakovich and I felt badly being a few minutes late. When I got closer, I could see that they all had tears in their eyes. Silently, our first violinist handed me the New York Times and soon I was weeping, too.

After some tears, we made our way to our rehearsal space and began with that famous Barber Adagio. After some more tears, we collected ourselves and continued our rehearsal.

Lennie, whom none of us ever met in person (though had seen live on the podium) was such a major force in our musical lives that tears and music–rather than words–were the only expression we could find for our grief at his passing. Yet Bernstein lives on today and he will continue to touch the hearts of musicians and music lovers everywhere. He was clearly the most brilliant American musician of the 20th Century.

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:53:00 +0000

Not the cheapest place to find them no doubt, but Kultur has a ton of Bernstein DVDs. http://estore.websitepros.com/1652646/Categories.bok

My daughter is a huge Bernstein fan, and we’ve bought her several of the series over the years – they are absolutely wonderful.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:44:06 +0000

One of the listeners and a guest mentioned lectures Berstein gave at Harvard that were available on video. I would like to track this down. What is the title of the series? Any info on publisher? Thanks!

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:30:25 +0000

My mother dragged me to a number of Young People’s Concerts at Carnegie Hall including the wonderful Peter and the Wolf. I have fond memories of Bernstein speaking directly to kids. No dumbing down but from the heart concern that kids would get as excited as he was about the music, the composers, the musicians, their instruments and the history of classical music.

I also have memories of running up and down the aisles during concerts. I’m not sure if those memories are true at this point but they might be. What an amazing time to be alive. I’m glad to have those memories.

It could be done again but first you’d have to find another Bernstein and that would be tough. Still, if it were done I’d surely take my granddaughter so she too could run up and down the aisles and have the great memories I do.

By: lindy

lindy — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:37:58 +0000

I was a BU music student in the ’70’s. A friend with press passes got us into the Green Room at Symphony Hall after Bernstein conducted Beethoven’s 6th. We knocked, and Lennie opened the GR door himself, wearing a bathrobe and towel. He looked his impossibly gorgeous, leonine self. We spent an hour with him grouped around the grand piano as he played his favorite sections from the symphony. A charming, engaging, magnetic person. We walked out on air.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:56:23 +0000

Get your hands on Deutschegrammaphone’s “Bernstein Conducts: West Side Story.” I got my copy on eBay about 5 years ago. You get to see all sides of this brilliant musician, conductor, composer and teacher with the best opera singers in the world.

By: Scott Lowe ("Lau")

Scott Lowe ("Lau") — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:40:42 +0000

Ok, I’m hooked. What is a good starting place for a newly converted Bernstein fan? Is there a album that you can recommend as my first? Books? Lectures? etc.? What should I look for?

(Richmond, Vermont)

By: joshua michael stewart

joshua michael stewart — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:17:49 +0000

I have a recording of Louis Armstrong performing St. Louis blues with Bernstein and the NY Philharmonic. Could you talk about that performance?