The classical music world has got a fever, and the only prescription is more Bernstein.
With the centennial of the composer-conductor-pianist-teacher’s birth coming up on Saturday, Lenny Mania is about to achieve critical overload. Bernstein has been everywhere for the past year, and the remembrances and celebrations look as if they will continue through at least the end of next season, with concert schedules ripe with representative works.
All the fuss is justifiable, of course. After all, there was no more influential figure in American music, and I would be hard pressed to think of any other conductor who achieved his level of glamour and universal recognition. Lenny was that rare bird in classical music – he was a superstar.
In common with musical organizations all over the world, The Classical Network can’t very well let this milestone pass without a good party. In particular, all this week, many of our syndicated programs and locally produced shows have been trumpeting this outrageously talented figure.
The birthday blow-out will climax with two days of Bernstein’s recordings and compositions, and perhaps even a sample or two of his spoken observations on music. After all, Bernstein was unusually articulate on the subject. I hope you’ll join us in celebrating Lenny on The Classical Network, as the bulk of our programming this Friday and Saturday will be made up of playlists lovingly curated by WWFM on-air hosts.
How about you? Do you have a Bernstein story you’d like to share? The Classical Network is giving you two options through which to do so. You can either post your story on the station Facebook page at WWFM – The Classical Network or email it to info@wwfm.org, identifying it in the subject line simply with the name “Bernstein.”
We’ll select from these on Friday and Saturday and share them with our audience in between some of Lenny’s classic recordings. It can be a personal anecdote, or it can be a broader observation. How has Leonard Bernstein touched your life?
From a personal standpoint, I am curious to hear about your own favorite recordings. I’ll be sharing some of mine on the air tomorrow afternoon. What are some of yours? I’d be happy to chat with you about it in the comments section below. If you want any of your comments shared on the air, be sure to send them to WWFM. Otherwise, what happens on Classic Ross Amico stays on Classic Ross Amico.
Then tune in on Friday and Saturday as we light 100 candles for Leonard Bernstein, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
Photo courtesy of The Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc.