40 THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE DOWNTOWNER | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER CELEBRATING died in 1990. In Scottsdale, Siegel will play four lesser-known LEONARD Bernstein pieces, three of the Anniversaries, short compositions for BERNSTEIN piano, and an unpublished piece that Siegel debuted. He is the only pianist who has played it professionally. “Lenny called the Anniversaries, ‘snapshots in sound, showing his intro- spective, private side rather than the extroverted personality many associate with him,” he says. The pieces are in honor of Copland, Johnny Mehegan, a jazz Pianist Jeffrey Siegel pianist Bernstein liked to listen to in Manhattan’s musical-rich Greenwich Village, and for Helen Coates, his per- honors the composer on sonal secretary.

his birth centennial MESSAGE OF THE MAESTRO Siegel met Bernstein as a young man through a mutual friend, American David M. Brown » The Entertainer! wide: symphonic and orchestral music, for Siegel’s Keyboard Conversations, mezzo-soprano, Jenny Tourel, who ballet, film and theater, choral works, which the young septuagenarian also escorted the young pianist back stage to eonard Bernstein’s 100th opera, chamber music and piano pieces. performs in 20 other cities annu- meet with him. Then, in a series of sub- birthday is a west side story Specifically, other well-known ally, including New York, Chicago, scription concerts in November 1988, and an east side story; one compositions include the “Serenade for Philadelphia, Cleveland, Minneapolis, conducted by Zubin Mehta, he spoke of joy uptown, downtown Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion,” Houston, Dallas, Denver, Washington, at length with Bernstein, as they often and everywhere great the “The Three Dance Episodes from D.C. and at London’s Kings Place. encountered each other during and after music, music-making and music- ‘On the Town, Mass,” in memory In these, he plays virtuoso works for rehearsals and performances. Lmakers are loved. of John F. Kennedy, the masterpiece the piano by a broad range of composers “We chatted in the conductor’s “It’s wonderful that all over the choral work, “Chichester Psalms,” and and briefly discusses the works before room, and he said to me that his pub- musical world, his music is being cel- three symphonies. playing them. He follows each concert licist, Maggie Carson, attended and ebrated this year,” says pianist Jeffrey Siegel studied as a youth with with a question-and-answer session. enjoyed my ‘Keyboard Conversations,’” Siegel, who, like Bernstein, speaks with three of the 20th century’s premier The programs, which began nearly he recalls. “He told me how pleased he his audiences from the stage. teachers: Rudolf Ganz, Rosina 50 years ago at Northwestern University was that I was using the format he so “He wanted to be remembered as Lhévinne at The Juilliard School in in Siegel’s native Chicago, have been much approved of.” a conductor and music educator, but New York City, and, while a Fulbright widely praised by attendees and critics. Then Bernstein said something he told me that he was most concerned Scholar, with Ilona Kabos in London. that has resonated with Siegel since and that his music would survive him.” The great Arthur Rubinstein, con- RHAPSODY IN JOY helped reconfirm his life’s path to 75 Leonard Bernstein at 100: A Musical sidered the greatest modern Chopin In this tribute, Siegel will perform piano and beyond: “Of all the great things you Celebration is the final of Siegel’s four interpreter, coached him. arrangements of songs from Bernstein’s are doing, including performing as a annual “Keyboard Conversations,” piano Siegel has appeared with the West Side Story, plus two works asso- concert pianist with symphony orches- concerts with commentary. The show is great orchestras worldwide: the Berlin ciated with Bernstein: Gershwin’s tras, make sure you continue to make at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, at the Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Rhapsody in Blue, which Bernstein time to do these programs. Few musi- Virginia Piper Concert Hall at Scottsdale London Symphony, The Philadelphia both played and conducted, and Aaron cians can play music well and talk about Center for the Performing Arts. Orchestra, Moscow State Symphony Copland’s El Salon Mexico, an orchestral it just as well.” “West Side Story, one of the great Orchestra, NHK Symphony of Japan piece that Bernstein arranged for solo Case in point: An 11-year-old musicals of the 20th century, was 60 and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. piano, his first published work. boy approached Siegel after a recent years old last year,” he adds. “Many of The conductors he partnered with “Lenny—he always wanted fellow “Keyboard Conversation” and noted, his other compositions are being played are legends from yesterday and today: musicians to call him that and not the “Mr. Siegel, you know, Beethoven is not frequently into the 21st century. Gladly, Pierre Boulez, Neeme Järvi, James more formal ‘maestro’ or ‘Mr. Bernstein’ that bad, after all.” we can say that his music has survived.” Levine, Zubin Mehta, Sir Simon Rattle, because he said, ‘We are all making Bernstein: He’s pretty good, too. Phoenix native Steven Spielberg Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Eugene music together’—played the Rhapsody has just announced a film remake of the Ormandy, Sir George Solti, Klaus more often than any other piano com- 1961 West Side Story, with the book by Tennstedt, Yevgeny Svetlanov and his position and recorded it twice,” Siegel “Keyboard Conversations” Tony Kushner. friend of 45 years, Leonard Slatkin, with explains. “He talked about Gershwin’s Scottsdale Center for the Winner of 16 Grammys, includ- whom he recorded the complete piano ability to, as he put it, ‘perspire gorgeous Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second ing a Lifetime Achievement in 1985, works of George Gershwin, an Amazon melodies’ effortlessly.” Street, Scottsdale, 480.499.8587, Bernstein (1918–1990) was music bestseller. Other recent CD releases Gershwin and Copland were his scottsdaleperformingarts.org, director of the New York Philharmonic, include The Romantic Music of Chopin favorite American composers. “Copland 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, 1958–1969, and laureate director until and The Miracle of Mozart. was a father figure for him through his $29-$49. his death. His compositional range was This is the 39th year in Scottsdale life,” he adds. Copland and Bernstein

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM