A most absorbing week surrounded by Bernstein memorabilia due to be placed cheek-by-jowl on my additional shelf space after renovations; biographies, memoirs, letters, LPs, CDs, videos and DVDs.
Noticed the scant coverage of the 25th anniversary of his death, apart from a recent documentary, Bernstein at the BBC, until I realised that his centenary in 2018 will probably provide substantial coverage of the man and his incorrigible combustible energy.
Alas, I only saw LB on the concert platform on one occasion, he was always an instant sell-out, but luck intervened on 13 Dec, 1989, when London was in the midst of a raging 'flu virus and I got a return ticket at the Barbican on spec for a concert performance of Candide conducted by the composer; an attractive cast and a rare opportunity to see a close 'Lenny' friend, Adolph Green as Dr Pangloss - a master-class in timing, too after many years in Broadway musicals - and Christa Ludwig (a double grace as I'd just recently seen her at a Wigmore Hall recital). Fortunately it was video recorded, directed by Humphrey Burton, and although I later did a video/DVD transfer, strictly for my own use, of course, I'm pleased to see that it is still available on-line from the river people.
A sprightly figure - physically of surprisingly short stature but immense in presence - and he acknowledged a thunderous reception by telling us that he, too, had the London disease, but obviously possessed by the healing power of Dr Theatre, he instantly energised the cast and orchestral players, his sheer grace and rhythmical gyrations deservedly given the appellation of 'leaping Lenny'!
Canny, too, in providing respite by three casual, yet telling and witty interpolations about the subtext in the script; shrewd and perceptive, he linked the Spanish Inquisition sequence to McCarthyism and the HUAA activities of the early 50s, an ugly attempt to stifle debate, 'the cornerstone of democracy'. Comparable to Andre Previn he is instantly fluid and lucid in defining satire so that the audience relaxed and could react to the humour throughout.
I'm confident that a DVD of this Barbican performance will surface in one of the generous Bernstein boxsets already in circulation with Broadway musicals yet to follow.
A year earlier, 1988, I was chuffed to video record a first night performance of a new production of Candide by Scottish Opera at Glasgow's splendid Theatre Royal, in yet a further adaptation by John Wells and directed by Jonathan Miller.. Encouraging credentials and a spanking cast with Nickolas Grace as Dr Pangloss/Voltaire and Marilyn Hill Smith as Cunegonde. John Mauceri in overall musical command, although he couldn't conduct due to recording contracts. In turn, LB was in the audience, centre front row, Dress Circle, of course. I referred to Humprey Burton's biography and gather that LB had been in attendance for several days as he specifically wanted several numbers back in the order of composition and a few later cuts restored. A stylish production with clever designs and I liked the use of masks, too. Luck again, as the production transferred to the Old Vic where I saw it and it also won an Olivier Award in 1989. I wonder whether Scottish Opera still have the video rights - hae m'doots - as I can tell them that this production still has legs in my own DVD transfer - strictly for my own use, of course! I also have a 1CD recording on the shelves.
Serendipity, too. I noted an extra item on my video which now has archival value. Alas it is only a 15 mins extract, the conclusion of a Tanglewood tribute concert for Lenny's 70th birthday.The penultimate item was a solo from Lauren Bacall mit pianist, with a delicious parody of Jenny from Kurt Weill's Lady in the Dark. Jenny was changed to Lenny as Ms Bacall throatily projected "Lenny made his mind up when he was three, etc, and I could detect the hand of Stephen Sondheim, only he could rhyme Versatile with Wait a Weill! :)- and I still laugh at every viewing. A treasure. The concert closed with Seiji Ozawa conducting a full chorus and principals in Make Your Garden Grow, led by Dawn Upshaw and Jerry Hadley which made Lenny misty-eyed before he took his place on the platform. Craftily avoided any radical chic by clutching the microphone and started, "as Victor Borge said..."and feigned a loss of sound by mouthing 'thank you'. before joining his colleagues who sang, Happy Birthday, dear Lenny..." Memorable.
In turn, I must now quit my traffic of the stage and continue during the weekend with a bit more.
Noticed the scant coverage of the 25th anniversary of his death, apart from a recent documentary, Bernstein at the BBC, until I realised that his centenary in 2018 will probably provide substantial coverage of the man and his incorrigible combustible energy.
Alas, I only saw LB on the concert platform on one occasion, he was always an instant sell-out, but luck intervened on 13 Dec, 1989, when London was in the midst of a raging 'flu virus and I got a return ticket at the Barbican on spec for a concert performance of Candide conducted by the composer; an attractive cast and a rare opportunity to see a close 'Lenny' friend, Adolph Green as Dr Pangloss - a master-class in timing, too after many years in Broadway musicals - and Christa Ludwig (a double grace as I'd just recently seen her at a Wigmore Hall recital). Fortunately it was video recorded, directed by Humphrey Burton, and although I later did a video/DVD transfer, strictly for my own use, of course, I'm pleased to see that it is still available on-line from the river people.
A sprightly figure - physically of surprisingly short stature but immense in presence - and he acknowledged a thunderous reception by telling us that he, too, had the London disease, but obviously possessed by the healing power of Dr Theatre, he instantly energised the cast and orchestral players, his sheer grace and rhythmical gyrations deservedly given the appellation of 'leaping Lenny'!
Canny, too, in providing respite by three casual, yet telling and witty interpolations about the subtext in the script; shrewd and perceptive, he linked the Spanish Inquisition sequence to McCarthyism and the HUAA activities of the early 50s, an ugly attempt to stifle debate, 'the cornerstone of democracy'. Comparable to Andre Previn he is instantly fluid and lucid in defining satire so that the audience relaxed and could react to the humour throughout.
I'm confident that a DVD of this Barbican performance will surface in one of the generous Bernstein boxsets already in circulation with Broadway musicals yet to follow.
A year earlier, 1988, I was chuffed to video record a first night performance of a new production of Candide by Scottish Opera at Glasgow's splendid Theatre Royal, in yet a further adaptation by John Wells and directed by Jonathan Miller.. Encouraging credentials and a spanking cast with Nickolas Grace as Dr Pangloss/Voltaire and Marilyn Hill Smith as Cunegonde. John Mauceri in overall musical command, although he couldn't conduct due to recording contracts. In turn, LB was in the audience, centre front row, Dress Circle, of course. I referred to Humprey Burton's biography and gather that LB had been in attendance for several days as he specifically wanted several numbers back in the order of composition and a few later cuts restored. A stylish production with clever designs and I liked the use of masks, too. Luck again, as the production transferred to the Old Vic where I saw it and it also won an Olivier Award in 1989. I wonder whether Scottish Opera still have the video rights - hae m'doots - as I can tell them that this production still has legs in my own DVD transfer - strictly for my own use, of course! I also have a 1CD recording on the shelves.
Serendipity, too. I noted an extra item on my video which now has archival value. Alas it is only a 15 mins extract, the conclusion of a Tanglewood tribute concert for Lenny's 70th birthday.The penultimate item was a solo from Lauren Bacall mit pianist, with a delicious parody of Jenny from Kurt Weill's Lady in the Dark. Jenny was changed to Lenny as Ms Bacall throatily projected "Lenny made his mind up when he was three, etc, and I could detect the hand of Stephen Sondheim, only he could rhyme Versatile with Wait a Weill! :)- and I still laugh at every viewing. A treasure. The concert closed with Seiji Ozawa conducting a full chorus and principals in Make Your Garden Grow, led by Dawn Upshaw and Jerry Hadley which made Lenny misty-eyed before he took his place on the platform. Craftily avoided any radical chic by clutching the microphone and started, "as Victor Borge said..."and feigned a loss of sound by mouthing 'thank you'. before joining his colleagues who sang, Happy Birthday, dear Lenny..." Memorable.
In turn, I must now quit my traffic of the stage and continue during the weekend with a bit more.
Didn't quite succeed but I did manage to work with Andrew Cruickshank and Bill Simpson, grateful for the location work at Callander.
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