Leonard Bernstein News

The life of Mary Rodgers Guettel, composer and children's book author, will be remembered and honored in a memorial celebration tonight, November 3 at Town Hall. Mary was best known for her musical Once Upon a Mattress, and her novel Freaky Friday. She passed away in June at her home in New York City. She was 83 years old.

San Francisco, CA, September 30, 2014 – Continuing its trailblazing tradition of presenting new and less familiar works of music theatre, Opera Parallèle will give the world premiere of an opera based on author Catherine Friend's beloved children's book, My Head is Full of Colors, today, November 1, at 11 am in the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street. Written by Santa Cruz composer Chris Pratorius with libretto by Opera Parallèle Artistic Director Nicole Paiement, the work is the first commission premiered by the Company and is being performed during National Opera Week (October 24—November 2). The production will feature 4th grade students from Creative Arts Charter Schoolperforming with soprano Carolyn Bacon and baritone Sergey Khalikulov. Laura Anderson is the stage director, costumes are designed by Elly Jessop; the singers and small instrumental ensemble will be conducted by OP Intern Conductor William Long.

Today, November 1, embark on the first concert of the Houston Symphony's Family Concert Series as Associate Conductor and audience favorite Robert Franz leads the orchestra in a program entitled African Safari with Music from The Lion King.

This November and December 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Kimberly Valerio will perform as flute soloist with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) on November 14 and 15 in a program titled Beethoven “Eroica.” Music Director José-Luis Novo will lead the orchestra in these Lexus Classic Series concerts beginning at 8:00pm in the newly renovated auditorium of Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.

The New York Philharmonic will present Dohnanyi / Dvorak: A Philharmonic Festival, December 4-13, 2014, featuring two all-Dvorak programs conducted by Christoph von Dohnanyi, acclaimed for his interpretations of the Czech composer.

The New York Philharmonic has established an International Advisory Board (IAB) to develop relationships beyond the United States in order to support the Philharmonic's activities abroad, including regular Philharmonic residencies, educational and entrepreneurial projects, and the launch of the newly formed New York Philharmonic Global Academy. The International Advisory Board will serve as an international network of advocates and ambassadors who will connect with individuals and institutions in their home cities and countries to cultivate the Philharmonic's long-term reach and influence worldwide. IAB members will work with the Philharmonic to secure engagements, activities, and funding sources in a variety of international locations.

Shelly will bring Incurably Romantic to the Metropolitan Room for three nights, Today, October 30, Friday, October 31 and Today, Dec 4, accompanied by the superb David Shenton Trio.

Segerstrom Center's Chamber Music Series continues on Saturday, January 31, 2015 with the acclaimed Szymanowski Quartet. For its third appearance, the Warsaw-based ensemble will perform traditional, popular and rare works by Polish composers Marcin Leopolita, Wac?aw of Szamotu?y, Krzysztof Penderecki and Graz?yna Bacewicz. Pianist Joseph Kalichstein makes his Center debut performing Chopin's Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 and Dvor?a?k's Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 8. There will be a free Preview Talk by musicologist and author Herbert Glass at 7:15 p.m. in Samueli Theater.

Segerstrom Center's Chamber Music Series continues on Saturday, January 31, 2015 with the acclaimed Szymanowski Quartet. For its third appearance, the Warsaw-based ensemble will perform traditional, popular and rare works by Polish composers Marcin Leopolita, Wac?aw of Szamotu?y, Krzysztof Penderecki and Graz?yna Bacewicz. Pianist Joseph Kalichstein makes his Center debut performing Chopin's Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 and Dvor?a?k's Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 8. There will be a free Preview Talk by musicologist and author Herbert Glass at 7:15 p.m. in Samueli Theater.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette Sunday, November 30, 2014 8:00 PM in the Prudential Hall . Get your tickets now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony will be kicking off its 15th anniversary season with a pair of concerts featuring the world renowned clarinetist Stanley Drucker in a performance of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. The concerts will be held on Saturday, November 8th at 8PM and Sunday, November 9th at 3PM at All Saints Church, 230 East 60th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in New York City.

Recently, David Bernard, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony's music director, sat down with Stanley Drucker to discuss his illustrious career, Mozart and life after 60 years with the New York Philharmonic.

HE JEWISH SPIRIT, a new cd on Sono Luminus (DSL-92182), was released today, October 28, 2014, with Essential Voices USA, conducted by Judith Clurman with soloists Ron Raines, Bruce Ruben and Michael Slattery.

Our national ballet treasure, American Ballet Theatre, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The 2014-2015 season is abundant in new works, classical masterpieces, and signature American Ballet Theatre masterworks.

2Y announces casting for Lyrics & Lyricists 2015, the 45th season of the acclaimed American Songbook series. Cady Huffman, Liz Callaway, Kate Baldwin, Peter Cincotti and Jason Danieley are among the performers interpreting the works of Stephen Sondheim; Irving Berlin; Sheldon Harnick; and such songwriters as Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Leonard Bernstein, who so eloquently illuminated New York City's essence in song. Mitzi Gaynor makes a special guest appearance for the show on Hollywood's Leading Ladies - only the fourth time the legendary entertainer has performed in New York City.

The life of Mary Rodgers Guettel, composer and children's book author, will be remembered and honored in a memorial celebration on Monday, November 3 at Town Hall. Mary was best known for her musical Once Upon a Mattress, and her novel Freaky Friday. She passed away in June at her home in New York City. She was 83 years old.

Encores! Celebrates Rodgers and Hammerstein and Hart, New York City Center's annual Gala tonight, October 27, 2014, will feature the music and lyrics of Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Lorenz Hart, sung by some of Broadway's finest talent, includingKate Baldwin, Kelli O'Hara, Laura Osnes, Steven Pasquale, and Paulo Szot, and with dance performances by Irina Dvorovenko, Chase Finlay, Jared Grimes, and Lauren Lovette.

The exceptionally talented Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) begins its 2014-15 Cheng Family Foundation Youth Orchestra concert series with a “Fall Concert,” featuring beautiful and challenging music by Leonard Bernstein, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Ottorino Respighi. Led by Assistant Conductor Alejandro Gutiérrez, the awe-inspiring young musicians open the concert with the grand and cheerful music of Bernstein's Overture to “Candide.” Then, “Swan Lake Suite” (selections) shines, showcasing Tchaikovsky's gift for melody. To conclude, brass musicians from the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE) join in to play Respighi's “Pines of Rome,” an Italian tone poem that achieved success at a time when opera dominated the music scene.

The most recent revival of 'On the Town', the 1944 smash hit based on Jerome Robbins' 'Fancy Free' ballet about three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in NYC, is first-rate on all counts. Right from the moment that the booming bass-baritone voice of Phillip Boykin joins the audience singing 'The Star Spangled Banner' as he strolls down an aisle, the show captivates with professionalism and energy that are sustained throughout the evening.