Pre-Concert Lecture: The World Bernstein Created

The figure of Leonard Bernstein looms large over the Twentieth century as a passionate advocate of innovation—and accessibility—in the American symphonic sphere. "It's the artists of the world, the feelers and thinkers," Bernstein declared, "who will ultimately save us; who can articulate, educate, defy, insist, sing and shout the big dreams." What were Bernstein's big dreams, and how were they realized, paralleled and challenged through his Jewish and queer identities? Join multidisciplinary artist Anthony Russell in an exploration of Bernstein through his life and work—and the world they created for us today.