100 years of Bernstein: Binghamton Philharmonic celebrates a legend

Brilliance comes in many forms, and sometimes in the person of one man. Such is the case with Leonard Bernstein—legendary composer, conductor, musician, educator, and humanitarian—a man so important to the landscape of American music that the corner of Broadway and W. 65th Street in NYC was renamed “Leonard Bernstein Place” three years after his death in 1990. 2018 would have marked his 100th year. In honor of the occasion, Leonard Bernstein at 100 events commenced on his birthday, August 25, 2017, and will continue into 2019. Celebrating a Legend: 100 Years of Leonard Bernstein marks the Binghamton Philharmonic’s contribution to this momentous celebration. The concert is held in memory of another figure important to BPO, David Agard, cofounder of the orchestra and artistic director of the BC Pops, who passed away in 2017.

“The performance is going to be all Bernstein,” explains Principal Guest Conductor Daniel Hege. “As a composer, obviously it’s the legacy he left behind for us to keep immortalized, but he lives on in so many other ways. His contribution to the musical world and to cultural life, I think, is difficult to exaggerate. He was among the very first musicians to become famous on television as a classical musician, and he was able to have one foot firmly in the classical style of composition, and Broadway and jazz with the other foot. He was a tremendous educator—in fact, that may be his greatest gift—a great conductor, and world-class pianist as well. He was really a polymath within the field of music, and many people said even outside the field of music. So, I think it’s justly deserved that we give a full concert of Bernstein’s music.”

Through his immensely popular television broadcasts of Omnibus and Young People’s Concerts, Bernstein made classical music accessible and understandable to millions of viewers, commencing in the 1950s. His tenure with the New York Philharmonic lasted from 1958 until his death—11 years as music director followed by 21 years as laureate conductor. His association with Tanglewood lasted even longer—from 1940 studying under Serge Koussevitzky to his final concert just two months before his death. His popularity extended to the Broadway stage, film, and ballet, in such treasures as West Side Story, On the Town, On the Waterfront, and Fancy Free.

“Bernstein infused even his serious music with a feeling of jazz. It was just very original. It was very much his own voice. I think Bernstein’s music—it’s so natural in the way that it comes out and can be received by attendees to the concert. And also for the orchestra, they’re familiar with its language: its harmonic language, melodic rhythmic language. I think people can connect to it in a very direct way.”

Hege continues, “My job is to perform the work in the most sincere and passionate and powerful way the music can be expressed. I’m simply trying to be as respectful to the composer and make the art as great as I possibly can.”

Hege has clearly proven his ability to make the art as great as he possibly can. Hailed as one of America’s finest conductors, with both national and international credentials, he currently serves as the music director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (a position he has held since 2009), and principal guest conductor for both the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and Binghamton Philharmonic.

“Every orchestra develops their own kind of culture within the orchestra. They have their own traditions, they have their sound, they have their own way of reacting in rehearsal to making music—and in the performances as well. So each orchestra is a little bit different and unique.”

Hege invites everyone to join BPO for this incredible tribute. “It’s going to be incredibly exciting. They’re going to hear a lot about Bernstein as a composer, obviously, through his music. Some of his most enduring works were written for Broadway: West Side Story, Symphonic Dances, On the Town, Candide (the Overture and Suite), and these are all the places Bernstein was most at home as composer. So, they’re going to hear extraordinary music, and extraordinary music making by the Binghamton Philharmonic.

He elaborates: “They’re also going to hear some readings about Bernstein—we’re going to develop some readings to be done throughout the concert to talk about Bernstein as the polymath that he was: as a conductor, as a composer, and as an educator. There are few people who could excel in the number of areas that Bernstein did. They can dabble in it, but not excel in the way he did. He was an extraordinary person.”

The Binghamton Philharmonic, now in its 62nd season, is well known for bringing the highest quality music, performed by a talented and dedicated group of professionals, to our region. Celebrating a Legend: 100 Years of Leonard Bernstein will take place on Saturday, March 17 from 7:30-10pm at the Broome County Forum, 226 Washington Street in Binghamton. Tickets can be purchased by calling (607) 723-3931, online at binghamtonphilharmonic.org, or at the office located at 71 West State Street (Lower Level), Binghamton: Adults $20-$45, children 18 and under free with purchase of an adult ticket, students $10 with college ID.