Originally Posted by
Louise NM
For those unfamiliar with Bernstein, you will be hearing his name a lot, as this year is the centennial of his birth.
By 1943, he was an assistant conductor with the New York Philharmonic. He made his conducting debut when a guest conductor fell ill, and Bernstein had to fill in with just a few hours' notice. (According to some sources, after little sleep and with a mighty hangover.) Difficult music on the program, no opportunity to rehearse with the orchestra beforehand. Concert in Carnegie Hall. Oh, and it was to be broadcast live over CBS radio. It was the mother of all high-wire acts, and the rookie pulled it off, without a net.
At the time, the other prominent conductors were old, European, formal, and intimidating. The young, handsome American kid was a blast of welcome fresh air. He wrote music for ballet, stage, and screen, including On the Waterfront and West Side Story. For those not familiar with West Side Story, make some popcorn, fire up Netflix, and spend an evening with Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, and Bernstein's incomparable score. You'll recognize parts.
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