PRELUDE, FUGUE News for Friends of Leonard Bernstein RIFFS Spring/Summer 2008 The Best of All Possible Worlds by Craig Urquhart arnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic will join forces in a CNew York City - wide festival, Bernstein: The Best of A ll Possible Worlds. The festiva l will commemorate the 90th anniver­ sary of Bernstein's birth as well as the 50th anniversary of his appointment as M usic Director of the New York Philharmonic. Beginning on September 24 and running through December 13, 2008, the festival will fea ture more than 30 events at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, New York City Center, and other venues throughout the city. The celebration will include concerts, recitals, musical theater, lectures and film screenings, as well as educational programming. "All of us at Carnegie Hall are very proud to be presenting jointl y, with his great orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, this special celebration of Leonard Bernstein," said Carnegie Hall's Executive and Artistic Director Cli ve Gillinson. "Lenny appeared on Carnegie Hall's stage more than 400 times in his career, with audiences experiencing his talents as performer, composer, and master educator. Well beyond our walls, he inspired an entire (continued on page 2) 3 The 90th Worldwide 4 Spring Break in Snow 7 Leonard Bernstein: Inside ... Proves To Be Education American Original 8 In the News 10 Selected Performan'ces 14 Looking Ahead The Best of All Possible Worlds, continued To Our generation, bringing music to Thomas and the San Francisco the center of people's lives all Symphony Orchestra will be Readers around the world. A celebration joined by soloists Dawn Upshaw, of Lenny is a celebration of life Thomas Hampson, and Yo-Yo Ma and a celebration of music. Lenny in a program showcasing high­ was music! We look forward to lights from Bernstein's operatic joining our partners in placing and stage works, including e were pretty sure people weren't special focus on someone who selections from Fancy Free, forgetting who Leonard Bernstein W was not only a remarkable artist A Quiet Place, On the Town, was, but now, as his 90th birthday year and a great New Yorker, but also Wonderful Town, Candide gets underway, the veritable cavalcade someone who truly belonged to and West Side Story. of events being prepared in his honor is the world." Marking the 50th anniversary making us feel like Bernstein is more on "Leonard Bernstein's New of Bernstein's appointment as the map than ever. All over the world, York Philharmonic legacy is like their Music Director, the New orchestras, soloists, opera companies no other," said the orchestra's York Philharmonic will present and publishers are cooking up every President and Executive Director Avery Fisher Hall programs sort of celebration. Candide is sprout­ Zarin Mehta. "From the moment showcasing Bernstein's three ing like kudzu. The symphonies are of his legendary conducting debut symphonies with works by being programmed at a record pace. in 1943 to his final concert, from other 20th - century American We're only sorry that Leonard the players on stage to adoring composers. Music Director Bernstein's devoted helpmates, Harry audiences in New York and Lorin Maazel will lead the Kraut, Margaret Carson and Robert around the world, Leonard Philharmonic in Bernstein's Lantz, will miss the festivities this year. Symphony No. 2: The Age of The scope of the Carnegie Hall - Anxiety, paired with works by New York Philharmonic partnership "We look forward to Mahler, Boulez, and Maazel in celebrating Bernstein's 90th this fall himself on September 25-27. is very much in the grand Harry Kraut placing special focus David Robertson will conduct tradition of ambitious projects reaching a program featuring Bernstein's out to the maximum audience. And on someone who was Symphony No.1: Jeremiah, as how we will miss Ms. Carson and well as works by Copland, Elliott Mr. Lantz in the audience, adding not only a remarkable Carter and Christopher Rouse their keen observations and dry wit artist and a great on October 30-November 1. to the proceedings. On November 24, New York Meanwhile, throughout all the New Yorker, but also Philharmonic Music Director hoopla, the Leonard Bernstein Center Designate Alan Gilbert will continues to do the work closest to someone who truly lead The Juilliard Orchestra in Bernstein's heart: bringing the love of Bernstein's Symphony No. 3: learning to children and teachers alike, belonged to the world." Kaddish, paired with Beethoven's in ever-increasing numbers of school Symphony No. 3: Eroica. districts across the country, and making Bernstein inspired nearly every­ On November 14, 1943, inroads in Germany and Asia as well. one he encountered. Even today, Leonard Bernstein stepped onto Lenny's legacy - as conductor, the stage of Carnegie Hall for J.B.• composer, and educator - contin­ the first time, substituting at the ues to resonate throughout last minute for the ailing Bruno the New York Philharmonic. Walter and making his historic We look forward to celebrating New York Philharmonic debut. Leonard Bernstein and his music "ti On November 14, 2008, the iil with our partner, Carnegie Hall, c 65th anniversary of that special 0. and hope that all New Yorkers ·.,,"' occasion will be celebrated C will join us." IC with an unusual occurrence: C Bernstein: The Best of All The New York Philharmonic "'R" Possible Worlds launches on :,0 will travel back to its old resi­ ai September 24 with the 2008-09 dence, Carnegie Hall, for an V, season Opening Night Gala at ~ all-Bernstein program led by 5 '§, Carnegie Hall. Michael Tilson Music Director Designate Alan C: 3 Gilbert. The concert will feature 3 ~ N 0 0 00 0 The 90th Worldwide by Craig Urquhart Bernstein's music for the concert hall, ew York City is certainly not theater and film, including the two Nthe only place in the world that suites from West Side Story. is celebrating Leonard Bernstein in Among other exciting musical 2008. Earlier this year, the Philadelphia festival highlights are a semi-staged Orchestra presented a Bernstein Festival. production of the Bernstein/Robbins/ The Dallas Symphony also paid tribute Comden and Green musical, On The to Bernstein with three all-Bernstein Town, as part of New York City concerts conducted by Andrew Litton. Center's Encores! series (November February saw the Toronto Philharmonic 19- 23); performances of Bernstein's present a 90th Birthday celebration Mass with Marin Alsop and the under the baton of Kerry Stratton. Ba ltimore Symphony Orchestra (October Jamie Bernstein and Michael Barrett 24-25); and a one-night-only concert accompanied by members of the Israel with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonic and four vocal soloists featuring the rarely heard Concerto For on a five-city tour presenting Bernstein's Orchestra, led by Gustavo Dudamel at Broadway music. In March, the Sydney Carnegie Hall (November 16). Symphony joined in with a Bernstein A number of New York cultural Tribute conducted by Wayne Marshall. partners will broaden the reach of the On March 31 in New York City, the July also features a seven-concert festival, presenting Bernstein-themed Collegiate Chorale and the Orchestra Bernstein Series presented by the performances, film screenings and panel of St. Luke's gave the New York pre­ Singapore Symphony as well as a concert discussions. Joining Carnegie Hall and miere of A White House Cantata. In by the Shanghai Symphony in memory the New York Philharmonic in these celebration of both Jerome Robbins's of Bernstein. August will bring more special festivities are Absolutely Live and Leonard Bernstein's 90th birthdays, grand celebrations. Tanglewood Music Entertainment, The Jewish Museum, the New York City Ballet presented Center will repeat the Boston Pops Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, four programs in May featuring several Bernstein tribute, while the Blossom New York City Center and The Paley of their collaborations: Fancy Free, Music Center will present the Blossom Center for Media. • Dybbuk and West Side Story Suite. Festival Orchestra in a special concert Also in May, the Boston Pops featuring Jamie Bernstein as narrator, For a complete listing of events presented multiple Bernstein tribute with Loras John Schissel conducting. please visit www.bernsteinfestival.org. concerts with performances of Suite On August 24 the Schleswig Holstein from Fancy Free, Suite from On The Music Festival will present Viva Lenny! Waterfront, Overture to Candide and The Great Bernstein Gala Concert. selections from Broadway shows featur­ In September, the San Francisco ing the Boston Conservatory's Theater Symphony Orchestra will honor Division. Keith Lockhart conducted with Bernstein in concert; Michael Tilson special guest, John Williams. Thomas will conduct the all-star June marks the inauguration of program which will be repeated at the the Gettysburg Festival, a highlight of Gala Opening of Carnegie Hall. Marin which will be a performance of Songfest Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony conducted by Charly Prince. Orchestra will also pay tribute to On July 18, the Pacific Music Bernstein in performances of Symphony Festival will join in the celebrations No.1: Jeremiah and multiple perfor­ with a concert featuring the PMF mances of MASS in Baltimore, New Orchestra, members of the Sapporo York and Washington, DC. Symphony, Anne Akiko Meyers, violin; Many other celebrations are planned Peter Schmid!, clarinet; Makoto Ozone, throughout the world in the coming .,, iil piano and three conductors - Tadaaki months, to be reported in our next edi­ i: Q. Otaka, Luis Biava and Kentaro Kawase. tion. In the meantime, to find out more !"..., Japan will also see a flurry of Bernstein please visit www.leonardbernstein.com. • IQ" concerts presented by conductor Yutaka "<I) I!<' Sado with the Hyogo Performing Arts "' Center Orchestra that will take place ~ V, Leonard Bernstein -g_ in the Grand Hall of the Center.