Rehearsing can be a stressful experience with limited time – especially when a section or individual is called out. As you can see in this candid video, conductor Leonard Bernstein asks the trumpets for a cleaner, more open sound, which they quickly contest. He tries to describe the sound, but they clearly aren’t having it. “I don’t think we ever did that,” one player responds. Lennie holds his ground, “Don’t you hear the difference?” “No,” they respond…
The sound is clearly different, and in our opinion much improved. One can only guess as to why they didn’t hear the difference. Perhaps their proximity to the sound is too close? What do you think?
Update:
A reader has alerted us to another incredible video with a very irritable and exhausted Bernstein in rehearsal with Jose Carreras (West Side Story). It ends with Carreras visibly upset and storming out after the union rep. steps in to announce the rehearsal time with the orchestra had run out.
(Special thanks to Diane Gibson Nelsen ).
#LUDWIGVAN
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