Bernstein and the BBCSO, April 1982.

[Guest]

From what I can gather, Leonard Bernstein's only (?) encounter with this orchestra was not a success. They produced a not highly regarded recording of the Enigma Variations and that was about it.

Bernstein was going through a bad period personally in this timeframe (it was not long after the death of his wife) and was apt to be 'difficult'.

I've read some tittle-tattle courtesy of Norman Lebrecht, but I'd be interested to know the details of this encounter between conductor and orchestra, if anyone knows them....

[Suffolkcoastal]

I can remember the programme and the concert. From what I can recall Bernstein was a bit 'prickly' during the filming of the programme on the Enigma Variations. The Variations formed the first part of the concert which was also broadcast, the 2nd half consisted of the UK Premiere of his own Songfest composed in 1976-7 (one of his best works IMO). The performance of that work as far as I can remember (I was still quite young!) was not good, I already knew the work from the DG recording.

[makropulos]

I remember that concert too - and sitting in the front row of the stalls for it: even in such an eccentric performance of Enigma, it was captivating to watch LB at such close quarters. I also remember finding the concert performance rather more convincing than the record - but that could just be the memory playing tricks. Agree about Songfest - a piece I like very much. The TV programme about the rehearsals for Enigma (which I have on an ageing video) has some rather ill-tempered moments where Bernstein is clearly not a happy bunny.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I think your right about the concert performance of Enigma being better than the recording, I was only 17 at the time but I remember it being a cause of much heated discussion in our local music society. I think Bernstein finally managed to exorcise many of his guilty feeling over Felicia in the opera A Quiet Place which he completed in 1984, he seemed much more relaxed in his final few years.

[PJPJ]

...... From what I can recall Bernstein was a bit 'prickly' during the filming of the programme on the Enigma Variations.

There's an understatement! He really did get up the collective nose of the orchestra. "Unmusical" was one comment from a member if I remember it correctly after nearly 30 years. That programme and LB's bullying in "West Side Story" do not paint a flattering portrait of the man.

[Suffolkcoastal]

But as mentioned above the first half of the 80's were a period of great turmoil in Bernstein's life, I think we need to be more understanding because of this. Bernstein's conducting in that period was very uneven with many of his performances and recordings described as rather perverse.

[Alison]

I've never really been a Bernstein girl but find much to enjoy in the BBCSO Enigma Variations.
For me the tempo in Nimrod works rather superbly !

[amateur51]

I've never really been a Bernstein girl but find much to enjoy in the BBCSO Enigma Variations.
For me the tempo in Nimrod works rather superbly !

Here's the recording of Nimrod - judge for yourselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmC2MB9h5qI

[Alison]

Right on.

Thanks for posting.

Ok, so its too slow and yet ....

How many times does it sound merely perfunctory ??

[Mandryka]

I think it works. Bernstein convinces me that his choices here are valid.

Then again, I've recently developed a bit of a soft spot for later period Bernstein and would now rate his 1987 NYPO Pathetique as one of the finest ever recorded. Still not convinced by his Tristan, though.

[amateur51]

Try these, the same orchestra (LSO) at virtually the same speed as each other, and at about twice Bernstein's tempo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8fn2R6Hx30&playnext=1&list=PL51212BC78502C327

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF4iLmuU_bM

This one is also by the LSO and is just a bit more measured that the first two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npbUFXzGS8c

Nothing perfunctory about any of these in my opinion

[gradus]

I recall that Bernstein on coming to the podium was introduced to the orchestra by Rodney Friend who had worked with him when RF led the NYPO and Bernstein's rsponse was somewhat less than gracious. Wasn't it also the occasion of the 'You talk big but you don't deliver' remark to a member of the brass section. All this pales into insignificance however when one hears, after so many years, Bernstein's extraordinary and to some ears perverse treatment of the score. At such slow speeds one hears much that passes in the hurly burly of a regular performance and I love the way he shapes the climax of Nimrod but Edu comes across as a weirdly Straussian figure instead of the quixotic English creature that I think is intended, and as for that final chord...