GBH Openvault

Sounds Of Summer; Leinsdorf Farewell At Tanglewood

08/23/1969

Original raw record of Erich Leinsdorf interviewed by Jordan Whitelaw 8/22/1969 at Tanglewood.

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Series

Sounds Of Summer

Program

Leinsdorf Farewell At Tanglewood

Series Description

Tanglewood and Jacob's Pillow. Series release date: 1969

Program Description

Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Erich Leinsdorf; Beverly Sills, John Alexander, Justino Diaz, Berkshire Chorus, Tanglewood Choir. Erich Leinsdorf farewell appearance with the Boston Symphony Orchestra will be presented on NET's Sounds of Summer series. The concert takes place June 24 at the Berkshire Music Festival, on the Tanglewood Estate, Lenox, Mass., summer home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Leinsdorf, who has been at the helm of the Orchestra since 1962, announced his decision to resign his post at the end of the 1969 season. One of America's most acclaimed conductors, he has made a significant contribution to this country's musical life. Under his leadership the Boston Symphony Orchestra has introduced to America the best contemporary music, including such milestones as Barber's Piano Concerto and Britten's "War Requiem." Many premieres -- world and American -- have been given, and many long forgotten works revived. Leinsdorf's final concert features two works: a portion of Act II, Part II of Berlioz's opera "The Trojans," and a colmplete performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It was this latter work that inaugurated the opening of the Music Shed at Tanglewood in 1938. Soloists in the choral finale of the Beethoven work are Beverly Sills. considered America's foremost soprano; tenor John Alexander and bass Justino Diaz, both of the Metropolitan Opera Company. Joining the Orchestra will be the Berkshire Chorus and the Tanglewood Choir. The combined choral preparation is by Charles Wilson, assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony. He is assisted by John Oliver. Born and educated in Vienna, Erich Leinsdorf established himself as an outstanding musician in Europe before coming to New York in 1937 as an assistant conductor of the Metropolitan Opera. Two seasons later he became the Met's principal German conductor. After four years with the Met, he was appointed Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra, becoming (at age 31) the youngest man ever to direct a major American symphony. Subsequently, Leinsdorf served as conductor and Music Director of the Rochester Philharmonic and as director of the New York City Opera before rejoining the Met prior to his Boston Symhony Orchestra affiliation. He has been responsible for two National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Grammy Awards for "best classical performance by an orchestra" and was named "musician of the Year" in 1963 by Musical America and in 1964 by Music Business Magazine. Time Magazine commented that "...in the Boston Symphony, Leinsdorf has at last found an instrument worthy of his great skills."

Duration

00:52:00

Asset Type

Broadcast program

Media Type

Video

Topics

Music

Citation

Chicago: “Sounds Of Summer; Leinsdorf Farewell At Tanglewood,” 08/23/1969, GBH Archives, accessed July 27, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_FE682C4356994E6A93BA1DFD63617F8C.

MLA: “Sounds Of Summer; Leinsdorf Farewell At Tanglewood.” 08/23/1969. GBH Archives. Web. July 27, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_FE682C4356994E6A93BA1DFD63617F8C>.

APA: Sounds Of Summer; Leinsdorf Farewell At Tanglewood. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_FE682C4356994E6A93BA1DFD63617F8C