Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 3 ("Kaddish") epitomizes the musical and religious contradictions embodied by the man. Bernstein speaks about the making of the "Kaddish"; actress Laila Robins reads the "Closing Prayer"; and Boston scholars detail the musical and religious roots of Bernstein's "12-tone" -- yet tonal symphony.
Need a little inspiration? Look no further: Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), the great American-born and -trained conductor and composer, educator and humanitarian, spoke volumes in words and deeds: from understanding loss and disappointment, to persisting amid frustration (and fame), to devoting concerts to social causes. Here are ten of our favorite quotes (for musicians and the rest of us).
The New York Philharmonic This Week celebrates the Bernstein Centenary with a five-part series of broadcasts dedicated to their former music director. In episode 5, enjoy a playlist of highlights from the New York Philharmonic's discography, including works by Barber, Beethoven, and Bernstein.
The New York Philharmonic This Week celebrates the Bernstein Centenary with a five-part series of broadcasts dedicated to their former music director. In episode 4, enjoy this playlist of favorites from Bernstein performances with the New York Phil.
The New York Philharmonic This Week celebrates the Bernstein Centenary with a five-part series of broadcasts dedicated to their former music director. In episode 3, host Alec Baldwin explores a tumultuous year in Leonard Bernstein's life.
The New York Philharmonic This Week presents a five-part series for Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday month. In the second episode of this audio miniseries, host Alec Baldwin guides us through excerpts from the televised Young People’s Concerts.
The New York Philharmonic This Week celebrates the Bernstein Centenary with a five-part series of broadcasts dedicated to their former music director. In Part 1, host Alec Baldwin guides us through some of the landmark recordings and archival material from the Gustav Mahler renaissance that Bernstein helped cultivate and inspire. […]
"These last six weeks have been the happiest and most productive of my life," writes twenty-two-year-old Leonard Bernstein to Serge Koussevitzky, following a momentous summer at Tanglewood Music Festival in 1940.
So how did Leonard Bernstein meet Serge Koussevitzky, and how did Koussevitzky decide to take Bernstein under his wing? Find out more in this primer.
