Leonard Bernstein: the performer

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Watch (and listen to!) the legendary Leonard Bernstein in action in the artistic pursuit for which he may still be best known: leading an orchestra at the conductor's podium! A consummate artist and voracious music lover, Bernstein used his considerable talents in service of the "greats" of classical music and championed the arrival of modern genres and forms. In this playlist, you'll find not just repertoire standards by Schumann and Berlioz, but also some lesser known gems by the likes of Bloch and Milhaud!

Then, get to know another side of the multifaceted maestro in our corresponding playlist, Leonard Bernstein: the composer!

Watch maestro Leonard Bernstein conduct concerts streaming on medici.tv

Watch our magnificent archive films of conductor, pianist, and composer Leonard Bernstein in this dedicated playlist! An emblematic figure of classical music, maestro Bernstein stood out for his musical genius and on-stage charisma. He was a true music lover who put his immense talent at the service of all music, from the 18th to the 20th century. Alongside conducting the pillars of the classical repertoire such as Bach and Beethoven, he was a great champion of works by contemporary composers. Maestro Bernstein conducted the premiere of some of today’s best-known works. These include Britten’s opera Peter Grimes (the first opera Bernstein ever conducted!), as well as numerous works by Copland, Ives, and many others. In this playlist, which highlights the diversity of maestro Bernstein’s repertoire over the years, you’ll find nine concerts recorded between 1966 and 1982: from the poignant emotion of Elgar to the daring complexity of Shostakovich, each concert offers a unique musical experience. Allow yourself to be transported by Bloch’s haunting tonalities, Stravinsky’s dynamic rhythms, Berlioz’s romantic élans, Schumann’s intimate nuances, Milhaud’s audacity, and Sibelius’s dramatic intensity. In the program of this playlist, Leonard Bernstein conducts works such as Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, and Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5 with the London Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Bernstein also conducts Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique and Harold in Italy with the Orchestre national de France. Another nugget in this playlist of our finest filmed concerts conducted by Leonard Bernstein: Elgar’s Enigma Variations with the BBC Symphony Orchestra!

Maestro Leonard Bernstein, a legend

Leonard Bernstein was a renowned American conductor, composer, and pianist, recognized as one of the most influential figures in the musical world of the 20th century. Born in 1918 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, maestro Bernstein began his career as a piano prodigy before becoming the first American conductor to achieve worldwide fame. His career reached new heights with his appointment as permanent conductor of the New York Philharmonic when he was only 40. Leonard Bernstein conducted some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, leaving an unforgettable mark on the interpretation of classical works. Alongside his career as a conductor, Leonard Bernstein composed some very famous works, including the musical West Side Story, which has become a classic of the genre (Check out our special playlist of works composed by Leonard Bernstein to learn more). His artistic versatility also extended to music education, television, and writing, making him an iconic figure on the American music scene. His legacy lives on, marking an era when his musical genius transcends genres and still inspires today.

medici.tv, the best classical music streaming platform to watch concerts conducted by maestro Leonard Bernstein

medici.tv is the best place to discover all the facets of maestro Leonard Bernstein’s character. Maestro Bernstein, the performer, first and foremost: on medici.tv, you can discover a wealth of concerts conducted by the maestro, including some real treasures! In our catalogue, you can find the historic recording of the 1972 concert in tribute to Stravinsky, and even a legendary performance of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 with the London Symphony Orchestra, filmed in 1966. Then, Leonard Bernstein, the composer: on medici.tv, the best classical music streaming platform, you can also listen to works composed by Leonard Bernstein, who left behind a vast repertoire of works in a variety of genres: operas, musicals, chamber music, symphony music, the maestro explored everything, and medici.tv is brimming with these musical treasures (discover our dedicated playlist, Leonard Bernstein, the composer, to find out more!). Finally, Leonard Bernstein, the teacher: among our documentaries, we have the complete episodes of Omnibus, the famous American cultural program of the 50s, presented by Leonard Bernstein.