Here is a link to the whole program of the evening: worldcat.org/digitalarchive/content/server15982.contentdm.oclc.org/BSYMO/PROG/TRUSVolume16/Pub412_1988_TWD_BernsteinAt70_Con01-0.pdf
I am moved to tears , seeing Lenny conducting this concert. I have found it by accident today. I remember this night very well. I was living in Eastern Berlin (behind the wall). There was no option to make any record of the concert, so I decided to see it live, regardless the fact, that I had to get up early next morning. Now, 32 years later, this is deep in my heart, in my soul. It was, like seeing the eruption of a volcano in real, pure emotion, pure love to music and to life.
When I was a kid, which was a long time ago, I always watched the Young People's concerts on TV and idolized Lenny. I even sent him a fan letter once, and his secretary wrote back and thanked me. I got to see him conduct live during Canada's Centennial celebrations in 1967. He did not disappoint, though I was alarmed at how he would suddenly jump up off the the podium and barely stick the landing. He also roared and bellowed audibly, which must have been filtered out of the recordings. I remember he conducted Mahler's 4th, Debussy's La Mer, and a wacky Charles Ives piece for an encore.
I was there! At the time of Bernstein's 70th birthday gala at Tanglewood, I was Executive Assistant Manager at Cranwell Resort in Lenox. As a patron of the arts the hotel was invited to send a representative to the party and the owners asked me to attend it. What a night to remember! Thank you so much for posting this; I knew that it was televised nationally but I had no idea that the whole thing was taped and through the modern miracle of the internet it is no on RU-vid! Wow!
Absolute vintage Schlueter at 55:15. I can't think of another trumpet player that would play it with that broad and all-encompassing of a sound. Plus the Tchaikovsky at the end. Never heard trumpet playing like that. Such sound!
You are exactly right. I never understood the infatuation with players like Chris Martin and Phil Smith who play so laid back compared to this and with no personality--they all sound the same.
Thank you so much for enlightening us with this upload!!! Lenny is in "en rage" in Tchaikovsky symphonie nr. 5, Opus 64 live broadcast from Tanglewood on August 28, 1988 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington D. C.. So, the performance is unmatched. Kultur-VAI Unitel and Amberson must issue this and the live part of the entire symphony on DVD and as well as CD as a box set. Watch from 1:48:16. To this part was recorded live on August 25, 1988 on Lenny's 70th birthday.
Vielen Dank für die Aufladung - ich erinnere mich an das Geburtstagskonzert 1988 im britischen Fernsehen aber die fünfte Tschaikowskys wurde dann nicht ausgestrahlt. Habe das riesige Glück gehabt, 1987 Lenny mit den Wiener Philharmonikern in London zu hören
Schade, daß es die Tschaikowsky-Symphonie mit BSO nicht vollständig gibt! Ich finde diese Version (jedenfalls was hier zu hören ist) noch besser als die DG-Auskopplung aus demselben Jahr mit NYP!
Thank you so much for posting! For sixteen years, ever since I watched the celebration, I have been retelling the Rostropovich short speech and the point he made... And today I finally found it again! And refreshed my memory of the whole wonderful event, also! You made my day!
"Stephen Sondheim has written a song" - well, he wrote special lyrics to The Saga of Jenny, music by Kurt Weil. Certainly the high point of the festivities, at 1:35:37.
Thanks for the upload and the additional concert footage (Bernstein Conducting the BSO). However, I am interested in knowing how much of Leonard Bernstein's birthday concert is edited. For one, I do remember, when I viewed this on WHRO in 1989, that Victor Borge conducted the Boston Symphony in Smetana's "Dance of the Comedians" from the "Bartered Bride." I also remember Bernstein's children mentioning something about the family meeting Pope Paul VI. Also, though I do not remember what he was conducting, John Williams wore headphones during a part of this performance. And even though she had a solo in "Make Our Garden Grow", didn't Dawn Upshaw perform a selection on her own. And though this may have been only for the television audiences and not part of this VHS tape, there were recorded birthday wishes from Itzhak Perlman, who played a highly embellished version of "Happy Birthday" on his violin, Zubin Mehta (who said "Lenny, everything is yours!!") and Michael Tilson Thomas who conducted the London Symphony Orchestra playing a portion of "Rule Britannia." Also, someone sang Bernstein''s composition entitled "I Hate Music."
Well, yes. This is only something like 65% of the concert. The complete 70th lurks somewhere, It would be fun to see it all. Most of us were backstage, after all!
I remembered most of all the "Poor Lenny" song by Bacall, and the song his kids sang for him - the highlights, I think, because they are sung with such affection.
Hello everybody, I would like to know who are the wonderful singers wich delivered the Quintet ( I recognize only Jerry Hadley ), thanks yet, apologise for my English, and all my friendly wishes from France...
The one with the beard is Kurt Ollmann (Riff), the other man (apart from Jerry Hadley (Tony)) is Robert Osborne (Bernardo). The two women are Louise Edeiken (Maria) and Candice Burrows (Anita). Here is a link to the whole program of the evening: worldcat.org/digitalarchive/content/server15982.contentdm.oclc.org/BSYMO/PROG/TRUSVolume16/Pub412_1988_TWD_BernsteinAt70_Con01-0.pdf
Thanks Asimon65, Ollmann did not sing Riff with Bernstein in 84 ? Good voice. Carreras is a great one, I really adore him but, sure, in this case, Hadley should give a better Tony. Thanks again.
