Bernstein's "Fancy Free"

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Leonard Bernstein (1918- 1990) Fancy Free Ballet New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 63085

On This Day

Births

• 1819 - Austrian opera composer Franz von Suppé, in Spalato, Dalmatia;

• 1882 - British-born American conductor, arranger and new music champion, Leopold Stokowski, in London;

• 1907 - Hungarian-born American composer Miklós Rósza, in Budapest;

Deaths

• 1936 - Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, age 56, in Rome;

Premieres

• 1713 - Handel: "Utrecht Te Deum" (Julian date: April 7);

• 1800 - Beethoven: Horn Sonata, in Vienna, with horn virtuoso Wenzel Punto and the composer at the piano;

• 1898 - Chausson: Symphony, in Paris;

• 1909 - Rachmaninoff: "The Isle of the Dead" (Gregorian date: May 1);

• 1930 - Charles Wakefield Cadman: Violin Sonata, in Los Angeles, with violinist Vera Barstow;

• 1944 - Bernstein: ballet "Fancy Free," at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with the Ballet Theater orchestra conducted by the composer;

• 1958 - Easley Blackwood: Symphony No. 1, in Boston;

• 1958 - Quincy Porter: "New England Episodes", in Washington;

• 1977 - Broadway premiere of Sondheim: revue "Side by Side by Sondheim" (compiled from various Sondheim musicals by British singer-actor David Kernan and others); This revue opened in London on May 4, 1976;

• 1986 - John Harbison: "Music for 18 Winds," in Cambridge, Mass., by the MIT Chamber Players, John Harbison conducting.