Leonard Bernstein on Opera -- What Makes Opera Grand?

[leigh.bess.toad]

While poking around Youtube, I found a fascinating series (well actually several) of Leonard Bernstein on the Omnibus TV program back in the 1950s talking about different musical topics. But I just finished watching the series on What Makes Opera Grand.

Filmed in 1958 on the stage of old Metropolitan Opera House. Bernstein looks so young but he was 40 at the time. The main part of the broadcast features the 3rd act of La Boheme presented as both a spoken drama and then contrasting it to the operatic version. The Boheme features Carlo Bergonzi as Rodolfo. But for me, the end of part 7 and part 8 is the ending of Tristan und Isolde. With Ramon Vinay and Martha Modl as T&I. Obviously they were two of the greatest Wagnerians at the time. And the video ends with Modl singing the Liebestod -- obviously something that has great personal meaning. All told, its' about an hour 15 minutes, but well worth every moment. Also special to me personally is the soprano singing some of the examples around the piano in part 2 was Brenda Lewis, one of my professors in college. It was nice to see her near her prime. Take the time and enjoy. But if you only have time, watch #8 and the performance of Modl and the Liebestod.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imKp4PQ6rDQAls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E86GsP9UxU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALrJsBpc3f4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcAID8ZXD-4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feshwavIPgk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juC5woEYZkA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRKAAl757Ss&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNyIoalQu5Y&feature=related

 

 

Leigh.Bess.Toad

[+ Italiano]

. The Boheme features Carlo Bergonzi as Rodolfo.

 

The Boheme features also gorgeous Italian soprano Marcella Pobbe as Mimì.

 

Thanks for posting this. Very interesting.

[AdamSmith]

Some of the Omnibus material is available in text form in Bernstein's book The Joy of Music, along with other stuff from him. Some of it is fairly basic, but a lot is pretty good indeed.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Music-Leonard-Bernstein/dp/1574671049

[whipped guy]

It is interesting that Bernstein is more than likely not really thought of as an operatic conductor. However, he did conduct much opera from the obscure Medea of Cherubini, to more mainstream works such as Carmen, Fidelio, Rosenkavalier, and Falstaff… with even a La Sonnambula thrown in for good measure. One memory I have concerns his conducting of Cavalaria Rusticana where he tied to be as authentic as possibly with tempi and other markings in the score. However, Berstein was not aware of a live 1938 recording conducted by the composer Mascagni himself where all of that was thrown to the wind… It makes one wonder if Bernstein would have rethought his interpretation. At any rate, his opera A Quiet Place was given at NY City Opera this season… and we probably don’t initially think of him as a composer of opera either…

[adriano46]

Or of the beautiful Candide that almost defies staging, but as a concert opera is great with the right voices.

[Diverdan]

Thanks for posting this, Lee. I remember the Omnibus series with Allister Cooke and remember watching some of the other broadcasts that featured Leonard Bernstein. He probably has no equal as an American composer, conductor and musician, with such a wide range of musical accomplishments from the classical to the popular. It was fun to see and listen to these youtube segments you posted. Thanks and have a great week.

[uwsman2]

There's a DVD box available with all of Bernstein's celebrated Omnibus programs. It is amazing to see him so young in these TV broadcasts from the 1950s.

[leigh.bess.toad]

There's a DVD box available with all of Bernstein's celebrated Omnibus programs. It is amazing to see him so young in these TV broadcasts from the 1950s.

 

It's also amazing that we think of him as young in this and he's 40 years old. It was in 1958 that he took over the role of Music Director of the NY Phil.

 

And it's sad for me that 40 is so young. I can't even remember 40 anymore

[uwsman2]

Bernstein at 40 seems young because I didn't see him conduct live until he was much older - my first time was 1967 when my Dad took me in to the "city" for my birthday to a NYP concert. And then the next time I saw him conduct was after I moved to NYC as an adult and it was around 1980 or so, by which time he was in his 60s. So a video of him conducting at 40 is VERY young. But check out photos of him when he debuted with the NYP when he was 25. Wow!

[Diverdan]

Hey, uwsman... would the term "stud" be appropriate for him at 25? LOL... gifted, talented., etc. too.

[whipped guy]

In the spring of 1968 I attended a student performance of Carmen at the MET. A couple of girls in the class somehow managed to sneak into then Philharmonic Hall and get a glimpse of the NY Philharmonic in rehearsal. I recall one of them rushing up to a group of us as we waited in the lobby of the MET screaming in a very orgasmic manner and trembling as she exclaimed, "I saw him! I saw his gray hair! He is gorgeous! I saw him!" I thought she was going to have an orgasm right on the spot... well perhaps she did... or already had! Bernstein would have been 49 at the time...

[leigh.bess.toad]

Hey, uwsman... would the term "stud" be appropriate for him at 25? LOL... gifted, talented., etc. too.

 

DD -- the answer to the question is YES!!!!

 

And at 40.

 

LB's sexuality was always one of the great rumormills in music as far as I know. Unlike Britten, Menotti and Barber, it was not so publicly proclaimed. Was he bi or gay? Was the marriage to Felicia a facade? A question we will never really know the answer to -- at least not with 100% certainty. Not that it makes any difference. He always was and will be my conductor. In much the same way the Scotto and Price are my divas and Domingo is my tenor.