Today, August 25, 2018, is Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday.
I first became aware of Bernstein as a child through a series of TV programs (on CBS–can you imagine classical music on a commercial TV network today?) This series was actually a televised live concert series with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, called the “Young People’s Concerts”. This series demonstrated two of Bernstein’s most beloved characteristics: his facility as a teacher, and his skill as a conductor.
Watching those TV shows as a boy taught me more about classical music (by which I mean western concert music). In increasing my understanding it helped increase my love of music in general and classical music in particular. Hearing his lucid explanations and thrilling to the sound of a full orchestra performing his examples made me always look forward to the periodic broadcasts of that series.
And since that time, as an adult I have continued to seek out and enjoy his lectures and performances.
I only saw him perform once in person: it was when I was on a business trip to New York City and my wife and I attended his concert with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. I no longer recall what was on the program; I only remember that I was thrilled to see him in person, and disappointed that he didn’t say anything to the audience.
Leonard Bernstein has always been one of my heroes, and so I wanted to share this memorial with you just as he shared so much of his knowledge–and more important, love–of music with me.
Here’s a later example of a Bernstein talking about Beethoven’s third symphony:
And finally, here’s a complete copy of one of his early Young People’s Concerts:
Bernstein’s web site: