Leonard Bernstein at 100

KULTUR INTERNATIONAL FILMS TO RELEASE

LEONARD BERNSTEIN’S

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERTS

with the

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC

VOLUME 2

November 19, 2013

Digitally-Remastered 9-DVD Set Includes 27

Landmark Concerts

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ, October 3, 2013 – Kultur International Films will release Volume 2 of the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts with Leonard Bernstein on November 19, 2013, featuring 27 digitally restored videos of the landmark televised concerts on nine DVDs. This is the first release of Young People’s Concerts in more than 20 years, following the popular release of Volume 1 in 1993; with this release the entire series of Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts is now available on DVD.

Bernstein’s historic concerts for young people introduced an entire generation to the world of classical music through his inspirational commentary that conveyed an infectious excitement about the music coupled with world class performances by the New York Philharmonic. Televised nationally on CBS from 1958-1972, and eventually telecast around the world, the Young People’s Concerts were broadcast to millions in the United States and abroad, and the immensely popular series was the winner of multiple Emmy^®, Peabody, and Edison awards. The popular Young People’s Concerts continue today as part of the New York Philharmonic’s many educational programs.

"Bernstein left us with a tremendous legacy, the heart of which is a passion for and curiosity about music," said New York Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert. "The Philharmonic Young People's Concerts that he led were a magnificent manifestation of this, and the telecasts inspired a generation of music lovers and even professional performers. His conviction that music can be presented in a way that both illuminates and entertains is one that I share, and is experienced most palpably in these events. This release will ensure that his enthusiasm and insight will continue to inspire future generations."

The 27 concerts in this 9-disc set took place 1960-1972 and cover a broad range of musical topics and composers including the music of Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, Bach, Liszt, Strauss, Hindemith and many others. And, over the years, Bernstein used the Young People’s Concerts as a platform to introduce exciting new performers to the musical world as seen in the nine Young Performers programs included in this new set, which include appearances by a young André Watts, Paula Robison, and Lynn Harrell among others. Young conductors include Seiji Ozawa, Claudio Abbado, James DePreist, Sylvia Caduff and Helen Quach.

Kultur, the cultural programming leader in the home entertainment marketplace, brings the magic and wonder of these historic programs to a new generation with this special DVD collection.

“There isn’t a better way of introducing children to the joys of classical music…”

-- The Boston Globe

Embracing the then new medium of television, Bernstein as the Philharmonic’s Music Director expanded the then 30-year old education series, bringing the concerts and his insightful educational style to an enthusiastic audience outside the traditional concert hall. With his first televised Young People’s Concert in 1958 through his last in 1972 Bernstein created a sparkling music-with-commentary format which would become a national treasure.  Each program was painstakingly planned and scripted by the maestro himself, based on repertoire from the New York Philharmonic’s regular concert season.  And, as with many live televised events of the time, the actual production schedule was grueling: technical rehearsals began as early as 6 a.m. on the day of the concert, with full orchestra rehearsals at 8 a.m. and dress rehearsal at 10 a.m.    The concerts were broadcast live (in later years taped live), leaving no opportunity to correct the occasional technical problem.

“These programs get better with age…there is no mistaking [Bernstein’s]

unqualified genius for teaching and communicating…the Young People’s Concerts

set the standard for teaching music to children and adults alike.”

-- The Boston Globe

“…among my favorite, most highly prized activities of my life."

-- Leonard Bernstein

On January 18, 1958, Leonard Bernstein conducted his first Young People’s Concert, just two weeks after becoming Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. Bernstein conducted over 50 Young People’s Concerts from 1958 to 1972.    Originally broadcast live by CBS on Saturday mornings, the quickly revered, critically acclaimed program, winner of multiple Emmy^®, Peabody and Edison awards, became the “must-watch” event across the country.  At one point, the programs were considered so vital to the network that they aired for three years during prime-time at 7:30 p.m., underlining their importance to CBS, as well as to the millions who tuned in each week.  They were soon moved to Sunday afternoons, where entranced families could tune in for their weekly dose of the inimitable Bernstein and, eventually, the concerts were also translated into more than a dozen languages and syndicated to over forty countries.

Over the course of the series, Bernstein and the Philharmonic received thousands of letters and telegrams from well-wishers who had been influenced by his love and knowledge of music, his innovative teaching methods and boundless enthusiasm.  He touched many through his methods, and created a generation of music lovers, teachers and even musicians and conductors.