Take an intimate look 
into Leonard Bernstein’s life, genius and discipline. Download a podcast of Craig Urquhart, Bernstein’s assistant from 1985–1990, speaking to Edward Seckerson (writer, broadcaster and chief classical music and opera critic for The Independent) about his memories of his colleague and dear friend Lenny.
The most memorable concert for me was the Freiheit concert in Berlin, Christmas Day 1989. The Wall had fallen and it was a tremendous time of joy and celebration in Berlin. He formed an orchestra made up of the allies. But that day in Berlin was also a very quiet time. The only thing you could really hear in Berlin were people chipping away at the Wall. [Bernstein] asked a young child if he could borrow the hammer and started chipping away at the Wall himself. It was so symbolic for him because he spent his whole life trying to break down walls.
To go through an average day would take about six hours, as there is no such thing as an average day with Leonard Bernstein. Rehearsals would begin at ten, so I would have to either be in the hotel suite or at the Dakota to make sure that he was awake, functioning, dressed. He was usually very cooperative but there were some days, like all of us feel, that it is just not what you want to be doing – you would rather stay in bed. But he would get going.. he would read the newspaper and have breakfast. He would usually have a tirade against something that’s happening in the world that would disappoint him…
No matter what he was doing – because he was living five lives at a time – he always had time for his friends. He always wrote thank you notes. He always did little poems for friends for their birthdays. It was his nature to be that way. He was extremely grateful to everybody that worked with him. He was very much aware he could not do this all on his own.
The Bernstein Project continues!
Upcoming events:
» 7 February: Conductor and Interpreter
» 14 February: Broadway Prepared: Featuring Nina Bernstein
» 25 February: George Steiner: The Music of Thought
Filed under: Bernstein Project
