PROGRAMME 1
The first in a series on Leonard Bernstein’s life based on the book by Humphrey Burton. A look at what’s in store in the series and his Early years.

PROGRAMME 2
Bernstein’s musical On the Town takes centre stage and the guests include Comden and Green who collaborated with Bernstein on the show. Also a symphony inspired by the world of aviation with narration by Orson Welles.

PROGRAMME 3
This week concentrates on Bernstein the conductor. The guest is his life long friend and fellow student, composer/conductor Lucas Foss. Music includes his 2nd symphony -The Age of Anxiety and an uncut recording of an American in Paris.

PROGRAMME 4
Humphrey explores the romance in his early life and there’s a laugh or two in store with his musical Peter Pan and Trouble in Tahiti.

PROGRAMME 5
Bernstein in the early fifties and a special interview with life long friend and violinist Isaac Stern.

PROGRAMME 6
This programme includes extracts from his satirical operetta Candide (1956) and an interview with conductor John Mauceri who worked with him on the project. This week’s programme also features his only film score – On The Waterfront and his entry into opera.

PROGRAMME 7
Requiem for a President – Bernstein’s “Kaddish” symphony dedicated to his friend J.F.Kennedy. This week’s guest is Jack Gottleib, Bernstein’s assistant for 30 years.

PROGRAMME 8
Bernstein signs as music director of the New York Philharmonic, sending him right down the road of what became his passion – conducting

PROGRAMME 9
After six years with the New York Philharmonic he takes a sabbatical – to what result?

PROGRAMME 10
Bernstein’s Mass for the Kennedy centre with Shirley Bernstein (his sister) as the guest and Bernstein’s Mass as the featured work.

PROGRAMME 11
The early seventies, with choral music by Stravinsky and Haydn. We also learn about Bernstein The Man from his son Alexander.

PROGRAMME 12
Music specially written for the American bi-centennial

PROGRAMME 13
This week’s theme Crisis and Catastrophe – the death of Bernstein’s wife Felicia with music from Songfest and Beethoven’s String Quartet in C# minor opus 131. The guest is Nina Bernstein.

PROGRAMME 14
Bernstein’s proudest recording – Tristan and Isolde, and his own compostion Halil both recorded in 1981.

PROGRAMME 15
This week concentrates on Bernstein’s only full length opera – A Quiet Place and the Kiri te Kanawa recording of West Side Story.

PROGRAMME 16
Bernstein’s final concert at Tanglewood in August 1990. He also talks about Mahler and guests include Shirley and Nina Bernstein. Featured music in this programme includes Arias and Barcarolles, his song cycle for 2 singers and piano, and Prelude Fugue and Riffs.

PROGRAMME 17
Bernstein’s Final Year – busy until the end on 14 October 1990. We also hear from Kiri te Kanawa and Jose Careras in the Berlin Freedom Concert of 1989. Guests include Burton Bersntein and Justin Brown. Music includes part of his final work Concerto for Orchestra and the Barbican recording of Candide.

Leonard Bernstein by Humphrey Burton is now out in paperback

click here to view the “MENUHIN MASTER MUSICIAN – A NINETEEN PART RADIO SERIES – Written and Presented by Humphrey Burton”