CANDIDE's Travels Readers

• rt s News for friends of Leonard Bernstein Spring/Summer 1997 To Our CANDIDE'S Travels Readers eonard Bernstein's life had Ltremendous forward momentum, and so it continues wlth his legacy. 1997 has brought a difficult but inevitable transition to Bernstein's family and friends: the sale of his apartment in the Dakota in New York City. Warmth, laughter and music ruled in that place for 23 years. Felicia Montealegre Bernstein brought her unerring sense of style to Apt. 23, com bining elegance and comfort in perfect harmony. The high ceil ings took your breath away; the floppy green velvet couch restored it. Many a friend and colleague reveled in the rich sounds of Bernstein's enormous black piano ("my B-52," he called it) - and how lucky were those who feasted on the beautiful soups of his house keeper, Julia Vega. (The soups Lillian Hellman, Leonard Bernstein and Tyrone Guthrie, 1955. continue.) All things must pass, no mat by Nina Bernstein especially, the Catholic church, CANDIDE was ready for perfor ter how hard we try to keep whose Inquisition routinely tor mances in Boston. At some point change at bay; on the other f the theater community were tured and killed "heretics" in a during the Bos.ton run, Dorothy hand, rebirth cannot be held to award a special prize for ghastly event known as an "Auto Parker contributed lyrics for "The back either. Here comes CAN "most labored-over show in da Fe" ("act of faith"). Hellman Venice Gavotte", while Bernstein DIDE, back on Broadway! Imusical theater history", the observed a sinister parallel and Hellman had also added Here comes a concert hall rein honor wou ld most certainly go to between the Inquisition's church lyrics of their own to other num carnation of 1600 PENNSYL CANDIDE. Life has imitated art: sponsored purges and the bers. The authors' credits were VANIA AVENUE! Here comes the show's forty-four year saga "Washington Witch Trials" being already beginning to mount up. new musical life at the Leonard resembles Voltaire's picaresque waged by the House Un-American The production, directed by Bernstein Jerusalem International narrative itself, as numerous bril Activities Committee. Fueled by Tyrone Guthrie with sets by Music Competition! Here come liant minds have endeavored ga l rage and indignation, she began Oliver Smith and costumes by newly released letters and manu lantly to create the "Best of All her adaptation of Voltaire's book. Irene Sharaff, opened at the scripts, available to all at Possible" shows. Herewith, a John LaTouche was engaged as Martin Beck Theater in New www .leonardbernstein.com ! brief history: initial lyricist, while Bernstein York on December 1, 1956, to And while you're there, you can In 1953, the renowned play made numerous musical sketches. mixed reviews. Hellman's satire contemplate a small piece of wright Lillian Hellman proposed Before long, La Touche was was thought cerebral and heavy electronic immortality: the to Leonard Bernstein that they replaced by poet Richard Wilbur. handed; the sophistication of th e design of the website's home adapt Voltaire's CANDIDE for Hellman, Bernstein and Wilbur music (much of it in operetta page is a recreation of the musical theater. Voltaire's worked periodically over the next style) did not appeal to audiences. Bernstein's studio - at the novella of 17 58 satirized the fash two years, but labored in earnest The production closed on Dakota. J.B. T. • ionable philosophies of his day, through 1956. By October, (continued on page 4) The BETA Fund BETA Salutes Schuyler Chapin WAM! YOUNG PEOPLE'S and the Center for Arts Education CONCERTS Cultural Affairs and the United --·- beginning to see a new commit Federation of Teachers in a --- ment to arts education growing unique collaboration. ••.,· '"' • ... ~- .. d • . • . all over the country. Television In a city as large as New York, ~ ·-\i ._- must become part of that effort. BETA there are hundreds of cultural Today I am proud and excited organizations, community-based that WAM! America's Kidz Net FUND organizations, foundations and I fr work will be broadcasting these corporations that, along with the r- YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS Board of Education, provide and again. WAM! obviously has a Alexander Bernstein, John Sie, Chairman support arts education in our & CEO of Encore Media Co. and Midge strong commitment to the cultural by Alexander Bernstein schools. The Center for Arts Pierce, VP of WAM! Programming. growth of our children, and a pas Education's role is to harness sion for ensuring that a new gen he BETA Fund is proud of these efforts to improve arts edu n February 14, in the eration knows the joy of music. Tour Board Member Schuyler cation in individual schools and ORohatyn Room at Carnegie "I have had the good fortune Chapin, who, as Commissioner of the school system as a whole and Hall, WAM! America's Kidz recently to watch videos of these Cultural Affairs for the City of assist the Board of Education to Network announced the return to programs with kids in classrooms. New York, has skillfully led the form a collective focus which will television of LEONARD BERN I can report, most happily, that effort to make arts education once sustain itself after the initial five STEIN'S YOUNG PEOPLE'S the programs still enthrall, excite, again a vital part of the city. year stage is completed. CONCERTS WITH THE NEW inform, engage and amuse. My Undaunted by politics, budget The Center for Arts Education YORK PHILHARMONIC father 's enthusiasm is infectious. battles and bureaucracies, Mr. will lead a concentrated effort to Alexander Bernstein shared these His ability to make connections Chapin, along with Mayor rethink the pivotal role of arts in words at the announcement: between music and other disci Rudolph Giuliani, New York City the growth of our youngsters, and "It never occurred to me, as I plines is uncanny. He never con Public School's Chancellor Rudy will develop a broad base of sup accompanied my father at 6:00 descends, he is funny, and boy, Crew, as well as his wonderful port to sustain arts education in a.m. on a Saturday to Carnegie does he know a lot! He just doesn't colleagues and staff, have put the New York City's public Hall or Philharmonic Hall for sing very well at all. And even together a public and private part schools. bleary-eyed camera rehearsals and though some of these shows are in nership which serves as a model On a personal note, I thank and Eloise-like romps through those black-and-white, it doesn't matter for the nation. salute Schuyler for his level-head places which I considered my own a whit to kids who watch them. The Center for Arts Education ed, sage advice, and for hi s always personal play-houses, running "So I salute WAM! heartily is an independent, not-for-profit dependable support on matters from the control room in the for this effort, and fondly organization established in artistic and philanthropic. • truck, to the stage, to the produc acknowledge the New York September 1996 to administer tion meeting in the dressing room, Philharmonic - its players and and provide leadership for the For more information contact: to the spot-light booth way up in management, as well as Roger New York City Arts and The Center for Arts Education, the heavens behind the last seats Englander, who directed these Education Initiative, supported in 120 West 46th St., The Jacqueline of the balcony - it never occured programs, Mary Rodgers Guettel, part by a five-year, $12 million Kennedy Onassis High School, to me that there would be a day Elizabeth "Candy" Finkler, Jack challenge grant from the Room 108, New York, NY 10036. when there would not be Gottlieb, and John Corigliano, Jr. Annenburg Foundation. The YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS - all of whom patiently abided Initiative brings together the on television. I think that most an energetic pest of a little boy Center for Arts Education, the viewers of these programs, while who loved to hang around and be New York City Board of treasuring the experience of a part of it all." • Education, the Department of watching them, took them for 2 granted - much as we took music For channel information education in school for granted. please contact the Encore Media "Now we have become all too Group at (303) 771-7700. The aware of the impoverished state YOUNG PEOPLE'S CON of education without music and CERTS are available from The all the arts - impoverished Leonard Bernstein Society. Call because of budget cuts, fear and (800) 382-6622, or on the inter inattentiveness - and we are net at www.leonardbernstein.com. Updates www.leonardbernstein.com Leonard Bernstein Jerusalem International Music Competitions eactions to www.leonard Since the November 14, 1996 arch 1 brought registration Rbernstein.com have been launch, the site has been updated Mfor the 1997 Leonard overwhelmingly positive. Visitors three times. In December, it fea Bernstein Jerusalem International to the site have left numerous tured the YOUNG PEOPLE'S Composing Competition to a congratulatory messages in the CONCERTS, and in January, the close . Applicants from 40 coun "Guest Book"; many say how Harvard Norton Lectures. Both tries submitted 159 compositions, grateful they are for the opportu video series have been made avail the largest number coming from nity to learn more about this able for purchase directly from the United States (40). There extraordinary man and his legacy. the site. In February, it celebrated were 14 entries from Israel, 13 Critically, the site has been a WEST SIDE STORY, and dis from Italy, 10 from Russia and resounding success.

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