Episodes
| Series | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | American Dreams | 20180824 | Leonard Bernstein blazed a trail for American conductors when he became the first native to take the reins of one of the country's big 5' orchestras. To end this centenary week, Donald Macleod and Bernstein proteg退e Marin Alsop explore Bernstein's journey from upstart son of a Jewish immigrant, to superstar ambassador for American music. Samba (Divertimento) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Paavo Jarvi, conductor Mr and Mrs Webb Say Goodnight (Arias and Barcarolles) Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano Thomas Hampson, baritone Neil Percy & Simon Carrington, other voices London Symphony Orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor On the Waterfront (Suite) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Christian Lindberg, conductor Songfest (excerpts) Walter Plante, tenor Patricia Spence, alto Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Leonard Slatkin, conductor Lucky to be Me (On the Town) John Reardon, singer On the Town Orchestra A look at how Bernstein forged his position as a superstar ambassador for American music |
| 2018 | Into The Groove | 20180821 | There are no neutrals when it comes to Leonard Bernstein: exhibitionist, a playboy touring Italy in a Maserati, an exhilarating conductor, provocative thinker, one of the most electrifying personalities of our time'. 2018 marks the centenary of this life-affirming composer who always preferred to call himself, simply, musician'. This week Donald Macleod is joined by Bernstein proteg退e, the conductor Marin Alsop, to look back at Bernstein's hectic life as composer, pianist, thinker and entertainer. And, thanks to the BBC radio and TV archives, we hear from the man himself in interviews he gave through the course of his prolific career. We discover a man who was forceful in his views, passionate to the extreme, charismatic on the stage, but also latterly tormented by regrets and a feeling that he had never quite achieved the magnum opus inside him. The musical West Side Story is a touch-stone. It defined Bernstein's career but also offered a troubling insight into his personality as his definitive' recording fell short of his expectations before his eyes. Marin Alsop was there in the studio, thanks to her father who played violin on the recording and, thanks to her memories, we dig beneath the surface of Bernstein's apparent petulance to discover the truth of a tormented man reaching the sunset of his career. Bernstein was nothing if not a chameleon, and the week begins in the world of jazz which inspired much of Bernstein's finest work. Drummer Buddy Rich gives us his take on West Side Story, and Bernstein proves that even the intense poetry WH Auden can swing if you try hard enough. Enter Three Sailors (Fancy Free) Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Leonard Bernstein, conductor Prelude Fugue and Riffs New York Philharmonic Columbia Jazz Combo The Lark (Latin Choruses) The Sixteen Harry Christophers, conductor The Age of Anxiety (part 2) Lukas Foss, piano arr. Buddy Rich: West Side Story The Buddy Rich Orchestra Donald Macleod and conductor Marin Alsop explore the jazz influence in Bernstein's work. |
| 2018 | One Hell Of A Splash | 20180823 | `One didn't know from which springboard he'd dive, but one knew there would be a hell of a splash`. That was one famous critic's perceptive account of Bernstein in the New York Times. Today a look at Bernstein's reputation as a musical thinker as he a treads a delicate line between the innovative and the kitsch. Donald Macleod presents, with contributions from conductor Marin Alsop who was mentored by Bernstein in her early career. Slava! A Political Overture Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Leonard Bernstein, conductor Mass (excerpts) Jubliant Sukes, celebrant Ahser Edward Wulfman, boy soprano Morgan State University Choir Peabody Children's Choir Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop, conductor I Hate Music! Roberta Alexander, soprano Tan Crone, piano Kaddish (1st mvt) BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra Jamie Bernstein, speaker Leonard Slatkin, conductor Donald Macleod sizes up Bernstein's reputation as a musical thinker |
| 2018 | Setting A Scene | 20180822 | Whether he liked it or not, Leonard Bernstein's works for the stage came to define his legacy. Donald Macleod and conductor Marin Alsop explore the composer's gift for reaching new audiences through his theatre works, not least the hit musical West Side Story. Plus, a work which takes a painfully close snapshot of the young Bernstein's family life. The Children Fly (Peter Pan) Jean Arthur (Peter) Marcia Henderson (Wendy) Charles Taylor (Michael) Peg Hillias (Mrs Darling) Boris Karloff (Mr Darling) Wonderful Town (Overture) Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Simon Rattle, conductor A Quiet Place (Act 1 finale) John Brandstetter, baritone (Junior) Beverly Morgan, soprano (Dede) Peter Kazaras, tenor (Francois) Chester Ludgin, baritone (Sam) Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra Leonard Bernstein, conductor West Side Story (excerpts) Carol Lawrence (Maria) Reri Grist (Consuela) Marilyn Cooper (Rosalia) Carmen Gutierrez (Teresita) Elizabeth Taylor (Francesca) Grover Dale (Snowboy) New York Philharmonic Donald Macleod and Marin Alsop explore Bernstein's genius for musical theatre |