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Leonard Bernstein, a lifelong smoker, was busy lying buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, so he couldn’t make it to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s tribute to him at the Waldorf=Astoria. In the maestro’s stead, his music as well as his daughter, Jamie Bernstein, were present to pay tribute to the musical genius often simply referred to as “Lenny.”
Mr. Bernstein’s collaboration with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra began in 1947 and eventuated in his being named its Laureate Conductor in 1988. Twenty years later, to kick off “Lenny’s” 90th birthday celebrations, the orchestra performed selection’s from his extensive oeuvre, including West Side Story, Candide, and On the Town. Michelle Areyzage, Elizabeth Shammash, Jeffrey Picón, and Hugh Russell provided their singing chops in the soprano, mezzo, tenor, and baritone department respectively.
Finally, our good friend Tony Bennett took to the microphone and crooned a little Bernstein for the road. Lenny would have enjoyed it.
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