JoAnn Falletta says she never will forget the masterclasses she took from legendary composer, conductor, author and music lecturer Leonard Bernstein.
Falletta, the Grammy award-winning director of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, studied with the famed composer while at The Juilliard School. She said the most important lesson he taught her was to have passion.
“He spent the time with us and our orchestra working together,” Falletta recalled. “It was amazing to be in his presence. He was an electrifying and charismatic man. He was also filled with interest about people.”
According to Falletta, Bernstein once told the class that music is about emotion, humanity and touching the lives of people.
He passed away in 1990, but his music and legacy continues to touch lives through his frequently performed iconic works. He earned major awards including multiple Grammys and a Tony Award. Bernstein composed scores for Broadway hits including “Wonderful Town” and “West Side Story.
“He was an amazing genius,” Falletta said. “Genius is the only word for it. He’s been a hero for me ever since I first heard his name. I feel very, very lucky to have had personal contact with him.”
The Virginia Arts Festival is celebrating what would have been his 100th birthday with two performances by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra this weekend in Newport News and Norfolk, conducted by Falletta. “Bernstein at 100” will include music, dance, song and storytelling.
Bernstein’s daughter, Jamie Bernstein, will narrate the performances by introducing the music and telling stories about her father.
“Jamie will be talking about him in the context of the next piece in terms of what he was doing, why he wrote it and what it was like to be in the house with him while he was writing,” Falletta said.
The orchestra will present five pieces of Leonard Bernstein’s music during the show, including the score from “West Side Story,” the violin concerto “Serenade,” “Chichester Psalms” and “Candide.”
“I like to think of it as a kaleidoscope of some of his styles, some of the mediums in which he worked,” Falletta said.
The performances also will feature award-winning Broadway music director Rob Fisher, who works with the Bernstein Foundation. Other special guests include Todd Rosenlieb Dance company, violinist Robert McDuffie and clarinetist Jon Manasse. The Virginia Chorale and a soloist from Virginia Children’s Chorus also will join the orchestra.
Want to go?
What: “Bernstein at 100.”
When: 7 p.m. Friday at the Ferguson Center, 1 Avenue of the Arts in Newport News and 8 p.m. Saturday at Chrysler Hall, 215 St. Pauls Blvd. in Norfolk.
Cost: Tickets are $25-$76 for the Friday show and $18.75-$76 for the Saturday show.
More info: vafest.org or 757-282-2822.
Joseph can be reached by phone at 757-374-3134. Follow me @heynatjo.
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