Ludwig van Toronto

COFFEE BREAK | Leonard Bernstein conducting with only his face (Video)

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Call it a parlour trick. Call it a testament to the orchestra as the ultimate in human collaboration. During the finale of Haydn Symphony #88 with the Vienna Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein just stands there, emoting from only the muscles of his face. Arms at his side, the orchestra ebbs and flows with every eyebrow furl and minute muscle contraction. It’s an astonishing moment caught in film, and a reminder just how dynamic Bernstein was.