Leonard Bernstein Centennial

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Another trip to the Kennedy Center, this time to hear a concert honoring Leonard Bernstein and the approaching 100th anniversary of his birth.

The first two pieces were written by Bernstein. Slava! was written for Mstislav Rostropovich, who was coming to the NSO as Music Director in 1977. The second, Songfest, was commissioned by the NSO and Bernstein conducted its premiere, also in 1977, at the Kennedy Center.

The performance concluded with Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, a stunning and powerful experience.

The number of musicians required to perform the evening’s music was so large that the stage was extended and several rows of seats were removed.


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Leonard Slatkin conducted the performance. Slatkin was the conductor of the NSO until about 10 years ago when he left Washington for a position as music director of the Detroit symphony.

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Bernstein, on the right, with Jackie Kennedy and John D. Rockefeller III at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

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Memorabilia from three of Bernstein’s most important works, Candide, Kaddish, and Mass, written and performed at the opening of the Kennedy Center in 1971.

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A baton used by Bernstein, loaned to Gustavo Dudamel to honor his premier with the New York Philharmonic. It cracked during the final moments of the last symphony.

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This stool was owned by Johannes Brahms, one of Bernstein’s favorite composers. It remained in Bernstein’s home studio for many years.

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Items from the beginnings of his life in music. The music book remained on his piano wherever he worked for his entire life.

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It was a beautiful day on the Potomac.

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revised

© Russ Milam 2017