Bernstein's Mahler 2nd performed after the JFK assassination

[sbugala]

Hey Mahlerites!
    I haven't posted in months/years, but I think we'll have an opportunity to see a lengthier portion of the concert Leonard Bernstein led with the New York Philharmonic performing Mahler's Second after JFK's death. It was on the Sunday after the assassination, and CBS broke away when Jack Ruby shot Oswald, so no one saw the end. The New York Philharmonic did post a few minutes worth awhile back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzPW0FE746s&feature=relmfu    CBS will stream 4 days worth of their coverage from 1963, and I have to think that this might be part of it. http://www.cbsnews.com/2718-250_162-2337/jfk-assassination/  Maybe someone could capture it.

Regards,
Steve

[waderice]

I just tried going to the CBS web site URL you provided, and couldn't find anything about the Bernstein M2 performance you mention.  If you can provide a specific URL to the clip, or to where CBS mentions it specifically, it would be appreciated.  I did, however, see the clip at another link elsewhere (I think it was on YouTube, but couldn't find it there after a fruitless search), and it featured the first few minutes of the first movement.  What little bit I heard, Bernstein's approach to performance that time sounded about the same as his NYPO Sony Masterworks recording, made less than two months earlier.  It would be fascinating if it can be made available on DVD (even if the picture and sound are less than ideal), but I'm certain that there would be various legal hurtles that would need to be cleared before release.

Wade

[sbugala]

It sounds as if CBS will streamline things as it was broadcast during that time. www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-to-stream-1963-broadcast-coverage-of-jfk-assassination/    "Also, a schedule on the site will let viewers know when to tune in to the stream for specific reports and highlights, and CBS News will live-tweet the streaming coverage from Friday, Nov. 22 through Monday, Nov. 25. Likewise, key moments from the streamed CBS News footage will be available on-demand at CBSNews.com and will be shared on the CBS News accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram with the hashtag #JFK50. CBS News will share exclusive clips and previews of its broadcast coverage on Instagram as well."

I suspect that if they're showing days worth of stuff, it will almost have to include the Bernstein Mahler, because that was part of their broadcast at the time. We just don't know yet if that will be separately linked. This is just my heads up so people know if will probably be there in some form or other.

I stumbled upon this address that Bernstein made the day after he conducted the Mahler http://www.wadlin.com/kennedybernstein.htm

[waderice]

I finally came across (again) the link I saw earlier regarding this short excerpt from the 1st movement:

http://www.leonardbernstein.com/response_to_violence.htm

Wade

[sbugala]

It's on now: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/jfk-assassination/
but it's streaming, not linked. Enjoy while you can.

[sbugala]

Wow! Nice performance! I was mistaken about the portion that broke away. After the third movement's climax, CBS broke away to announce that dignitaries has landed in the U.S. to pay respects, not to Oswald/Ruby stuff. Then, CBS went back to the performance after about five minutes. The video was kinda primitive, but honestly, they came up with some good camera angles to show the scope of the stage, and close fuzzy close-ups of a french horn and a trumpet to allude to off-stage brass portions. Maybe someone will upload it to Youtube or something. I had always heard about this legendary concert, and I finally got to see it.

[waderice]

I came on a few minutes after the performance had started.  Actually, the breakaway was brief, not for coverage of the shooting of Oswald by Jack Ruby, but for the arrival of the British delegation at Dulles Airport, led by Prince Philip, to the funeral.  I thought that was a stupid move on the part of CBS.  The breakaway occurred near the end of the third movement, and when coverage of the performance resumed, we were in the middle of Jennie Tourel singing the "Urlicht" movement.

Performance-wise, I thought Bernstein's tempi were faster than his recently-completed CBS/Sony Masterworks recording.  Cramped quarters probably prevented the chorus from being placed directly behind the orchestra, and they were situated to the conductor's left.  I didn't catch where the performance was done; was it in CBS studios in NYC (presumably)?  And as expected, the quality of the sound was poor.

Wade