Leonard Bernstein Centenary

[Stanley Stewart]

In sweet remembrance of Leonard Bernstein's centenary, I decided to play an off-air
video, now on DVD, of a 1988 performance of Scottish Opera's production of Candide,
with LB in attendance. The performance directed by Jonathan Miller including
many revisions by John Wells, approved by the composer, was a huge success and I saw it
when it transferred to the Old Vic later. A splendid cast; Nickolas Grace,(Voltaire/Pangloss/Martin, Mark Beudert (Candide), Marilyn Hill Smith, Cunegonde - literally stopping the show on a few occasions- Bonaventura Bottone, (Captain, Govenor, Crook)/ John Mauceri, conductor.

Followed up with a further off-air video to DVD; a platform performance of On the Town, at the Barbican, late 80s, memorable because it may have been Lenny's last London appearance with a legendary cast which included Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Frederica Von Stade, Thomas Hampson, Samuel Ramey, Cleo Laine, Kurt Ollmann, Evelyn Lear, Marie McLaughlin and Tyne Daly. The concert was a sell-out, hot ticket event, but a seasonal 'flu outbreak encouraged me to quit my desk early and head for the Barbican where I got a return ticket!

Finally, one of my regular late night plundering viewings; 'Lenny at 70' celebratory concert, 1988, at Tanglewood. For some reason, I'd overlooked the TV outing but managed to catch and record the last 20 mins. A delicious rendering by Lauren Bacall of Sondheim's adaptation of Weill's, Jenny Made Her Mind Up, (Lady in the Dark) to Lenny Made His Mind Up and he was delighted by the word play throughout..."You may have to wait a little weill" etc, Made his platform appearance after the huge Tanglewood choir, led by the ringing tones of Dawn Upshaw and Jerry Handley, delivered a spine-tingling, "And make our garden grow". Shrewdly avoided a speech by grabbing a microphone, shook it several times: before adding, "As Victor Borge might say....and mouthed a 'thank you' before a line-up of Met divas sang "Happy Birthday, dear Lenny..."

[Suffolkcoastal]

You're a year early Stanley, the centenary is next year.

[Pulcinella]

As already mentioned in the Composer thread for Bernstein, the Royal Ballet is celebrating in a trilogy of ballets set to his music, including Age of Anxiety, to be broadcast (if that's the word!) to cinemas (including Picturehouse in York, Stanley) on 27 March 2018.
Not to be missed!

[Stanley Stewart]

You're a year early Stanley, the centenary is next year.

Thanks, Sc, I stand corrected but remain stimulated by the occasion!

[Stanley Stewart]

As already mentioned in the Composer thread for Bernstein, the Royal Ballet is celebrating in a trilogy of ballets set to his music, including Age of Anxiety, to be broadcast (if that's the word!) to cinemas (including Picturehouse in York, Stanley) on 27 March 2018.
Not to be missed!

Much thanks, Pulcie. I've made a diary note and double -checked to ensure I've got the right date!

[pastoralguy]

In sweet remembrance of Leonard Bernstein's centenary, I decided to play an off-air
video, now on DVD, of a 1988 performance of Scottish Opera's production of Candide,
with LB in attendance.
:

My first professional job out of college! I still have a mini score of the 'Candide' Overture signed by Maestro Bernstein!

[Stanley Stewart]

My first professional job out of college! I still have a mini score of the 'Candide' Overture signed by Maestro Bernstein!

Gosh, pg, what a stimulating start to a professional career! I assume that the various textual changes over three decades were finally decided by 'committee' and the noticeable feature of the Glasgow premiere was the instant connection of the audience to a splendidly enunciated and sung performance. I also have real affection for the subsequent productions at the Paris, Chatelet, also on DVD, as well as a CD recording of the 1999 RNT production by John Caird, set design by John Napier - made a special journey to the South Bank to see it as I'd retired in the mid-90s.

Fascinated last night to see a 60mins documentary on BBC 2, Festival Tales, Edinburgh at 70, which used archive footage to trace the history of the Festival at Auld Reekie, an opportunity for me to add, "this is where I came in" as I was a teenager attending the second festival, 1948, staying with my sister at Kirkcaldy, my first holiday on my own, and puzzling my family as I made a daily train journey to Edinburgh for all the 'high class' programmes on offer. Taking the stairs of the Usher Hall, two at a time, to hear Dame Maggie Teyte: in a mainly Debussy lieder recital, or watching 'foreign films' at the Cameo!
The documentary covers the initial 'conservative' resistance to the notion of the Festival but how quickly the tone changed at the arrival of so many distinguished visitors and Edinburgh opened its doors wide, due to the lack of hotels. However, even in the mid-60s when I was playing at the Gateway Theatre, I heard about residents who always quit the great City during the Festival. I was too busy enjoying the "happenings", remember those? or meeting visitors at the Lord Provost's bun-fights. By the 80s, my job at the COI, (Central Office of Information) took me north to the TV Festival and I used to book low cost student accommodation on the Lothian Road so that I could enjoy a substantial Scottish breakfast before crossing to the Queen's Hall for the morning recitals, do business at the Scottish Office, St Andrew Sq? in the early afternoon, attend TV Festival meetings, and eat at Henderson's, or actor Moultrie Kelsall's 'Laigh' caff, before an evening concert. Bliss! Must now transfer the Festival documentary from HD to DVD.

[BBMmk2]

Notg sure what work by Lenny I like. I do have a p[enchant for Dybuk and Symphony no.2, "The Age of Anxiety"

[pastoralguy]

I've always loved the 'Chichester Psalms'. I remember hearing the LSO under Antonio Pappano perform it about 10 years ago. I didn't know the work at all and, frankly, I wasn't expecting much Bruch I was thrilled by both the work and the performance.

[pastoralguy]

Gosh, pg, what a stimulating start to a professional career! I assume that the various textual changes over three decades were finally decided by 'committee' and the noticeable feature of the Glasgow premiere was the instant connection of the audience to a splendidly enunciated and sung performance. I also have real affection for the subsequent productions at the Paris, Chatelet, also on DVD, as well as a CD recording of the 1999 RNT production by John Caird, set design by John Napier - made a special journey to the South Bank to see it as I'd retired in the mid-90s.

Fascinated last night to see a 60mins documentary on BBC 2, Festival Tales, Edinburgh at 70, which used archive footage to trace the history of the Festival at Auld Reekie, an opportunity for me to add, "this is where I came in" as I was a teenager attending the second festival, 1948, staying with my sister at Kirkcaldy, my first holiday on my own, and puzzling my family as I made a daily train journey to Edinburgh for all the 'high class' programmes on offer. Taking the stairs of the Usher Hall, two at a time, to hear Dame Maggie Teyte: in a mainly Debussy lieder recital, or watching 'foreign films' at the Cameo!
The documentary covers the initial 'conservative' resistance to the notion of the Festival but how quickly the tone changed at the arrival of so many distinguished visitors and Edinburgh opened its doors wide, due to the lack of hotels. However, even in the mid-60s when I was playing at the Gateway Theatre, I heard about residents who always quit the great City during the Festival. I was too busy enjoying the "happenings", remember those? or meeting visitors at the Lord Provost's bun-fights. By the 80s, my job at the COI, (Central Office of Information) took me north to the TV Festival and I used to book low cost student accommodation on the Lothian Road so that I could enjoy a substantial Scottish breakfast before crossing to the Queen's Hall for the morning recitals, do business at the Scottish Office, St Andrew Sq? in the early afternoon, attend TV Festival meetings, and eat at Henderson's, or actor Moultrie Kelsall's 'Laigh' caff, before an evening concert. Bliss! Must now transfer the Festival documentary from HD to DVD.

Wow! Fantastic, Stanley. I saw the programme too and enjoyed it although it seemed to be unsure if it wanted to concentrate on the Official Festival or the Fringe. Great stories though. I caught a tiny glimpse of my much younger self scraping away industriously at an event!

The forbidding individuals of the citizenship of Edinburgh are still very much in attendance as I found out when I sat in the wrong row at the Queen's Hall a few days ago. Rather than disturb other patrons, I simply climbed over to where I should have been sitting. The disapproving stare I got from an elderly couple who looked like first prize winners in a lemon sucking competition should have turned me to stone!

[Stanley Stewart]

Wow! Fantastic, Stanley. I saw the programme too and enjoyed it although it seemed to be unsure if it wanted to concentrate on the Official Festival or the Fringe. Great stories though. I caught a tiny glimpse of my much younger self scraping away industriously at an event!

The forbidding individuals of the citizenship of Edinburgh are still very much in attendance as I found out when I sat in the wrong row at the Queen's Hall a few days ago. Rather than disturb other patrons, I simply climbed over to where I should have been sitting. The disapproving stare I got from an elderly couple who looked like first prize winners in a lemon sucking competition should have turned me to stone!

The Morningside stuffed shirts on their annual outing!

[Nick Armstrong]

Notg sure what work by Lenny I like.

The Prelude to his 'Bridal Suite' for piano duet, played on yesterday's Record Review, with the Bach Prelude No 1 combined with a tune from a show co-written by Adolph Green, composed by LB for Green's wedding, was a real ear-catcher! Loved it.

[Stanley Stewart]

The Prelude to his 'Bridal Suite' for piano duet, played on yesterday's Record Review, with the Bach Prelude No 1 combined with a tune from a show co-written by Adolph Green, composed by LB for Green's wedding, was a real ear-catcher! Loved it.

Seconded, Cali, a delight!

[BBMmk2]

I'll have a look!

[BBMmk2]

His symphonies, Candide, Dybuk, On the Waterfront, I liker a lot.