Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein Birthday Salute on WPRB

Our birthday salute to Leonard Bernstein is underway!

Featured highlights this morning will include that dark horse among great American symphonies, the “Symphony for Classical Orchestra,” by Harold Shapero (now playing), a powerhouse recording from Lenny’s later years of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 “Leningrad,” and a concert broadcast of his debut with the New York Philharmonic, from 1943. Bernstein was a brash (and severely hungover) 25 year-old at the time. We’ll get to hear that around 8:00 this morning. Bernstein was perhaps the greatest of American conductors, but he was touched by genius in so many areas – as composer, pianist, and teacher among them. Ideally we’ll have time for representative recordings of those, as well.

I hope you’ll be on hand, from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM or at wprb.com. We’ll try not to get ash on the keyboard, on Classic Ross Amico.

August 25, 2016
Bernstein’s 1943 Debut on WPRB

Don’t miss it! Playing right now: the original CBS radio broadcast of Leonard Bernstein’s legendary 1943 debut with the New York Philharmonic. We’re remembering Bernstein on his birthday until 11 a.m. EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

PHOTO: Bernstein in a hair-raising performance from 1946

August 25, 2016
Bernstein Conducts Rózsa Rare 1943 Broadcast

Leonard Bernstein conducts Miklós Rózsa? No way. YES, WAY!

On November 14, 1943, a 25 year-old Bernstein strode onto the podium to replace an ailing Bruno Walter – without rehearsal – for what became his New York Philharmonic debut. The rest, as they say, is history. On the program was Robert Schumann’s “Manfred Overture,” Richard Strauss’ “Don Quixote” and Miklós Rózsa’s “Theme, Variations and Finale.” The concert was broadcast nationwide. The New York Philharmonic issued the CBS transmission on CD in 1996. To my knowledge, this is the only document of Bernstein conducting Rózsa, who is best known for his film scores – especially that for “Ben-Hur,” but in 1943, Rózsa was chin-deep in his film noir phase.

You’ll be able to enjoy this historic concert broadcast and much more, as I salute Bernstein on his birthday anniversary, tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. We’ll go loony for Lenny, on Classic Ross Amico.

August 24, 2016
Blitzstein’s Airborne Symphony WW2 Relic

This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” we’ll highlight a single, patriotic work: Marc Blitzstein’s “Airborne Symphony.” Written on a commission from the U.S. Army while Blitzstein was serving in its Air Force, the work traces the evolution of flight from its conception in theory to its use in modern warfare.

The work was envisaged by the composer as a big symphony on the theme of “the sacred struggle of airborne free men of the world… to crush the monstrous fascist obstructionist in their path.”

Blitzstein began the work in 1943, at the height of World War II. It would not be completed until after the war, in 1946. Leonard Bernstein conducted the premiere virtually while the ink was still wet on the page. He recorded it twice. We’ll be listening to the second of the two recordings, from 1966, with Orson Welles as the narrator, vocal soloists, the New York Philharmonic, and the men of the Choral Arts Society.

Join me for this forgotten relic of WWII – “Flight of Fancy” – tonight at 10 EDT on WWFM – The Classical Network; or listen to it later as a webcast at http://www.wwfm.org/

July 3, 2016
Great Achievements Plan and Urgency
“To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.”
- Leonard Bernstein
July 2, 2016

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