Six conductors, one birthday, and enough musical royalty to make the heavens jealous.
In honor of Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday, Tanglewood—the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra—dedicated its entire 2018 season to the iconic composer, conductor, performer, educator and humanitarian. The festivities culminated on Bernstein’s centennial birthday on August 25, 2018, in a special celebrity-studded gala concert. Directed for the stage by James Darrah, The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood illuminates the breadth of Bernstein’s incredible life and career, which inspired generations of music lovers around the globe – from his talent as a composer to his generosity in mentoring other composers and musicians, his inimitable role as a driving musical force at Tanglewood for over 50 years and more.
Direction
James Darrah stages concert-as-theatre with genuine visual poetry.
Production
Tanglewood itself: the green cathedral of American music.
Acting
Audra McDonald hosting with warmth that could melt Lenny's baton.
Director
James Darrah
Audra McDonald
Self - Host
Andris Nelsons
Self - Conductor
Christoph Eschenbach
Self - Conductor
John Williams
Self - Conductor
Michael Tilson Thomas
Self - Conductor
Midori
Self - Violinist
Thomas Hampson
Self - Baritone
Isabel Leonard
Yo-Yo Ma
Self - Cellist
Nadine Sierra
Self - Soprano
Susan Graham
Self - Mezzo-soprano
Jessica Vosk
Tony Yazbeck
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
John Williams conducted here before he was THE John Williams—Bernstein personally championed the young composer's early concert works.
Tanglewood's 1937 founding was basically the American elite building a classical music summer camp; Bernstein transformed it into a genuine meritocracy through his Young Artists programs.
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