This article from the New York Times does cheer the heart.
Leonard Bernstein was a genius in so many ways, and made huge contributions to the American culture.
Critics remember him for his excesses and flaws, which he indeed did have, aplenty.
But it's hard to imagine American music without West Side Story, or Chichester Psalms, or Candide, or his incredible work in making music accessible to millions upon millions of young television viewers.
...in the 1950s, when American television viewers had three major networks to choose from — CBS, NBC and ABC — classical music was a part of the standard programming mix. Bernstein’s conducting demonstration was one of seven appearances, now on DVD, that he made on “Omnibus,” a 90-minute program that offered segments on science and the arts, particularly music and theater. It ran from 1952 to 1961, and migrated across the networks, from CBS to ABC in 1956, and to NBC in 1957.
These programs have just been made available on DVD. Their scripts formed the basis for much of his wonderful book The Joy of Music.
Again, OldSouth's personal soapbox is that the culture shapes the economy. He hopes that this DVD collection finds its way into the video systems of families everywhere, and are played again and again.
It will enrich the lives of the kids and grandkids in wonderful ways. They deserve to know who Bernstein was, what he accomplished, and to see him in his youthful prime.
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