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.
"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.
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.
Lenny had a fundamental discomfort with the very notion of a vacation. "And yet sometimes in my period of great activity, I long fiercely for just a period when I don't have to do anything, and I can just lie around and think." Listen to Lenny, in his own voice.
When Bernstein was offered the New York Philharmonic in 1957, he saw a chance to find the “locus” that he’d been missing. But he knew the cost to his composing would be high.
The Bernstein Experience brings to you, for the first time ever, exclusive audio footage from the intimate recording sessions of Leonard Bernstein with John Gruen. In these first clips (of more to come), Bernstein talks about the origin of West Side Story, on the heels of a failing Candide.
