Composers Datebook®

Bernstein's 'hateful' luck

Composers Datebook - Aug. 24, 2024
DOWNLOAD

Synopsis

Looking back on a famous person’s life and career, one often notes quirky patterns of coincidences. Take American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, for example.

On today’s date in 1943, Bernstein was one day short of his 25th birthday, and, at the Public Library in Lenox, Massachusetts, accompanied the singer Jennie Tourel in the premiere of a new song cycle for which Bernstein had composed both the words and the music. The song cycle, I Hate Music!, offered — from a child’s perspective — some devastatingly direct observations on art and life.

The following day, the New York Philharmonic’s music director, Artur Rodzinski, invited Bernstein to become Assistant Conductor of the orchestra.

Now, fast forward to November 13 that same year: Jennie Tourel and Bernstein were at Town Hall, giving the New York premiere of I Hate Music!. The very next day, Bernstein was asked to step in at short notice for the indisposed Bruno Walter, making his New York Philharmonic debut conducting the orchestra during their live national Sunday afternoon radio broadcast from Carnegie Hall.

Bernstein’s surprise — and successful — conducting debut made the front page of the New York Times, and a legendary career was launched.

Music Played in Today's Program

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): I Hate Music!; Jennie Tourel, mezzo-soprano; Leonard Bernstein, piano; Sony 60697

Miklos Rosza (1907-1995): Theme, Variations and Finale; The New Zealand Symphony; James Sedares, conductor; Koch 7191

On This Day

Births

  • 1803 - French composer Adolphe Adam, in Paris

  • 1837 - French composer and organist Théodore Dubois, in Rosnay

  • 1910 - German-born American composer Bernhard Heiden, in Frankfurt

  • 1919 - Danish composer Niels Viggo Bentzon, in Copenhagen

  • 1949 - American composer Stephen Paulus, in Summit, New Jersery

Deaths

  • 1985 - American composer Paul Creston, 78, in San Diego, California

Premieres

  • 1846 - Suppé: operetta Dichter und Bauer (Poet and Peasant), in Vienna

  • 1907 - Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4, in London

  • 1943 - Bernstein: song-cycle I Hate Music! at the Public Library in Lenox, Mass., with mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel and the composer at the piano; The New York premiere of this work occurred on November 13, 1943 (the day before his surprise conducting debut with the New York Philharmonic), with the same performers

  • 1980 - Lutoslawski: Double Concerto, for oboe, harp and chamber orchestra, in Lucerne, Switzerland by oboist Heinz Holliger, harpist Ursula Holliger, and the Collegium Musicum conducted by Paul Sacher

Others

  • 1724 - Handel performs on the organ at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London before the royal princesses Anne and Caroline (Gregorian date: Sept. 4)

  • 1968 - Czech conductor and composer Rafael Kubelik launches an appeal to world musicians to boycott performances in the five nations which invaded Czechoslovakia on August 20-21 until their military forces evacuate the country. The appeal was joined by Igor Stravinsky, Arthur Rubinstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Otto Klemperer, Bernard Haitink, Claudio Arrau, and others.

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

YourClassical

Carter's 'Boston Concerto'

Elliott Carter (1908-2012): ‘Boston Concerto’; BBC Symphony; Oliver Knussen, conductor; Bridge 9184

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Beethoven's First

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 1; Concertgebouw Orchestra; Bernard Haitink, conductor; Philips 442 073

2:00
YourClassical

The truth about Alkan

Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888): ‘Bombardo-Carillon’; Caroline Clemmow and Anthony Goldstone, pedal-piano; Symposium 1062

2:00
YourClassical

Dvorak's 'Rusalka'

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904): ‘O Silver Moon,’ from ‘Rusalka’; Renée Fleming, soprano; London Symphony; Sir Georg Solti, conductor; London 455 760

2:00
YourClassical

Symphonies by Strauss

Richard Strauss (1864-1949): Symphony No. 1; Bavarian Radio Symphony; Karl Anton Rickenbacker, conductor; Koch/Schwann 365 322

2:00
YourClassical

Sheng's 'Silent Temple'

Bright Sheng (b. 1955): String Quartet No. 4 (‘Silent Temple’); Shanghai Quartet; BIS 1138

2:00
YourClassical

Beethoven in Vienna

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): ‘The Creatures of Prometheus’; Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; DG 453 713

2:00
YourClassical

Haydn in Vienna

Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1808): ‘The Creation’; English Baroque Soloists; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor; Archiv 449 217

2:00
YourClassical

Glass in Rome

Philip Glass (b. 1937): ‘Rome Section,’ from ‘The Civil Wars’; Giuseppe Sabbatini, tenor; American Composers Orchestra; Dennis Russell Davies, conductor; Nonesuch 79487

2:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

About Composers Datebook®

Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.

He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.

About Composers Datebook®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00