Abstract
Leonard Bernstein was one of the most fascinating and flamboyant musical personalities of the 20th century. Whether as a pianist, conductor or composer, he always succeeded in inspiring his audiences’ love of music with his own infectious enthusiasm. We shall be celebrating Bernstein’s 100th birthday with a concert devoted exclusively to his compositions. His musical West Side Story was a worldwide hit. The street fights between the Jets and the Sharks can be heard in the Symphonic Dances taken from this work; the evening will also feature the emotional «Somewhere» as well as a host of Latin-American dances. Furthermore, the programme will include the suite from the opera Candide as well as less frequently performed works such as the Serenade after Plato’s «Symposion» and the Three Meditations from Mass. At the rostrum of the Philharmonia Zurich will be the British conductor Wayne Marshall, one of the most committed and experienced Bernstein experts.