"Did I tell you how we met on his birthday?" Bernstein says to the interviewer. "Oh, I must have!" Listen to Lenny tell the story of meeting Aaron Copland, only on Classical.org. (Plus, read the sonnet he wrote for Aaron's 80th birthday!)
Leonard Bernstein says Olga Koussevitzky hadn't mentioned Serge's failing health on the phone; yet, somehow he "knew" that he had to rush back to Boston. Bernstein got one last chance to talk with his beloved conducting mentor. Listen to this exclusive audio clip of Bernstein.
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.
Leonard Bernstein describes Serge Koussevitzky to interviewer John Gruen during the summer of 1967. Listen to tapes Gruen recorded as notes for his biography of Bernstein, made available to the public this year, only on Classical.org, official digital partner of the Bernstein Centennial.
Jamie Bernstein blogs about two weeks of sparkling Bernstein performances -- from Chicago, Colorado Springs, New York City, Washington DC, Scottsdale, and Memphis -- many of which featured inspiring young musicians.
The topic today was Leonard Bernstein, a teacher and mentor of St.Clair’s. The two of us have talked about Bernstein many times over the years, but always in passing and glancing efforts, never in one fell swoop like this.
Leonard Bernstein, for me, was the greatest risk-taker in 20th century classical music.
