World Renowned Argentine Guitarist Sergio Puccini To Perform at Teatro El Circulo
Elmer Bernstein’s critically acclaimed “Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra For Two Christophers” will be performed by Sergio Puccini at Teatro El Circulo with the Rosario Symphony Orchestra. The May 9th concert will be the Latinamerican premiere of the composition.
Written in honor of guitarist Christopher Parkening and the late orchestrator Christopher Palmer, the three-part composition (“Guitar,” Reflections” and “Celebration,” combines sweeping string work and upbeat passages in rondo form with soft introspective work that highlights the guitar.
Stated music reviewer David Hurwitz for Classics Today.com, “It’s a marvel and a joy to see this fine composer of film scores getting a rare hearing for his concert music.” Click here for full review.
Puccini, a force in the classical guitar world, is an educator and performer, having served as Dean of the Instituto Provincial del Profesorado de Música de Rosario (IPPM) since 1990, is also a Master Class instructor in Argentina and abroad. He frequently plays concert and recital programs in locales as diverse as Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Czech Republic and Hungary and has recorded with, among others, the Czech Virtuosi Orchestra and Venezuelan Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra. He has performed in national and world premieres of music by diverse composers as well.
“I am thrilled that a musician of Mr. Puccini’s stature will be performing a composition that has a very personal, emotional meaning for me,” said Bernstein.
Elmer Bernstein will make a rare public appearance to sign CDs and conduct a brief Q&A about work on his critically acclaimed score for “Far From Heaven,” Monday, January 20th at the Westwood Borders Books & Music, located at 1360 Westwood Boulevard (2 blocks South of Wilshire Boulevard) at 7:00 p.m.
CDs are available for purchase and the signing takes place on the second floor.
Maestro Elmer Bernstein was honored November 8th by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in celebration of his 50th Anniversary of film scoring. Carl Reiner emceed the evening that included a variety of hosted segments covering drama, westerns, comedy, jazz, epic and a special section featuring his projects with Martin Scorsese. […]
Elmer Bernstein’s “Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra for Two Christophers” featuring Christopher Parkening, which had its world premiere in Hawaii earlier this year, is now available on Angel/EMI. Read the reviews.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, in conjunction with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences November 8, hosts a month-long film festival at the museum beginning Friday, November 9 and continuing consecutive Friday and Saturday evenings through December 1.
The festival, the work for which was begun three years ago, features a variety of films, ranging from epic to drama to comedy to jazz, and will feature various speakers throughout the program.
Mr. Bernstein will make an appearance November 10 to address the audience about his collaboration with director Martin Scorsese. “We are extremely pleased with the variety of films secured for this program and the caliber of lecturers,” states LACMA film department director Ian Birnie. “We were successful in booking every film we requested,” he adds.
For a complete schedule of films, click here. For more details, including guest speakers and times, log onto www.lacma.org or call the Los Angeles County Museum of Art at (323) 857-6100.
Elmer Bernstein received the Composer/Arranger Award Sunday, October 28 at the 19th Annual Jazz Tribute and Awards Dinner-Concert held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.
Citing his pioneering work resulting in the firm establishment of the use of jazz in film scores, first in 1955 with the ground-breaking The Man With the Golden Arm, followed by, among others, Walk on the Wild Side and Sweet Smell of Success, keynote speaker Arthur Hamilton stated, “His music has stirred you, excited you, inspired you, amused you and kept close company with you, your family, and your family’s family—no matter where you live in the world.” (Click here for Mr. Hamilton’s complete introductory speech.)
The Los Angeles Jazz Society honor is one of the many honors and tributes recognizing a distinguished career that continues with original film composition, conducting and teaching, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Welcome to the 5th Anniversary Season of The Henry Mancini Institute, an organization that’s dedicated to answering the question, “What does it mean to be a professional musician in today’s world?” Read the complete article from Soundtrack magazine…
The Maestro Takes Tea, Crumpets and the Baton August 14 at Royal Albert Hall, London
Elmer Bernstein has been invited as guest composer-conductor to lead the BBC Orchestra on August 14, 2001 at the venerable BBC Promenade (“the Proms”) Concert Series. In addition to conducting his own acclaimed scores (click here for program), he has been invited to conduct the works of several composers whose work had an influential effect on his career as a film composer, including mentor Aaron Copeland. “Exiled Composers” is the theme of the series. Many of the composers honored that evening fled Europe as a result of the escalation of anti-Semitism and subsequent pogrom of Jewish intellectuals.
“As I was the first generation of my family to be born and raised in America, my first earliest cultural influences were quite naturally European and I am very proud to have been selected for this particular program,” said Bernstein.
The Henry Mancini Institute has announced this schedule for its annual series of three concerts—this year at the Wadsworth Theatre in West Los Angeles—featuring various guest artists with the HMI Orchestra. Charlie Haden’s Quartet West will perform on July 26 followed by Bob Brookmeyer, Elmer Bernstein and John Dankworth on August 4 and Regina Carter, John Clayton and Jerry Goldsmith on August 11. —Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times, Friday, May 18, 2001
Subjects as diverse as Bernstein’s early years and graylisting, work with directors from Cecil B. deMille to Martin Scorsese, collaboration with avant-garde designers Charles and Ray Eames and seeing the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl are interpersed with the sounds of many of the classic Bernstein scores.
Composer Receives Founders Award at Beverly Hills Black Tie Gala
Elmer Bernstein received the highest honor bestowed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) at a gala dinner held April 24, 2001 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Hosted by Academy Award-winning lyricist, President and Chairman of ASCAP, Marilyn Bergman, The Maestro was personally saluted by composer David (“Laura”) Raksin, lyricist Johnny Mandel, directors Edward Norton and Bill Duke. Composer James Newton Howard gave the moving keynote address. Upon accepting the award, Bernstein noted, “While recently in Spain following conducting a concert in Barcelona, I was quietly contemplating the true meaning of my work at a quaint, outdoor country cafe. At that moment, a little girl put a coin in a mechanical horse that began to play my theme from ‘The Magnificent Seven.’ It was an epiphany.”
On March 23 and 24, 2001, Elmer Bernstein conducted two concerts of his music in L’Auditori, Barcelona, Spain. L’Auditori, a concert hall inaugurated during the Olympic Games in 1992, had not one single vacant for these concerts: the response was massive and people came from all corners of Spain, as well as from abroad.
Mr. Bernstein arrived a few days before for rehearsals. On Friday 23, he cancelled the last rehearsal, saying that he was fully satisfied with the OBC (The National Orchestra of Catalonia and of the City of Barcelona). His consideration was justified: both concerts gained the best acceptance of the public.
The program included the main themes from The Great Escape, The Magnificient Seven, The Sons of Katie Elder, The Man with the Golden Arm, Walk on the Wild Side, Heavy Metal, as well as extensive suites from Hawaii, To Kill a Mockinbird, The Ten Commandments and The Age of Innocence. Also, he played Hollywood and the Stars (from the TV-documentary series) and the less known The View from Pompey’s Head.
It was, in all senses, two successful evenings. Mr. Bernstein gave full explanations of his music, even trying to speak in Spanish, and demonstrated that he has an enviable energy.
I had the opportunity to have supper with Mr. Bernstein and his wife on Thursday 22. We took them to a restaurant in the old district of Barcelona (the most visited by tourists), and through three hours we enjoyed a delightful company, talking about film music, Hollywood in the Golden Years, his perception of music nowadays… and a long etcetera.
I must say that Mr. Bernstein is a real gentleman. A kind man with a golden heart. Fortunately for us, he’ll be back next year in Barcelona. We’re waiting for him with our arms open. L’Auditori, a concert hall inaugurated during the Olympic Games in 1992, had not one single vacant for these concerts: the response was massive and people came from all corners of Spain, as well as from abroad. –Concert report by Conrado Xalabarder
Legendary Composer Surprises S.R.O. Audience by Taking Up the Baton
Composer Elmer Bernstein thrilled the Dallas Symphony Orchestra audience with a surprise appearance as conductor for a suite from his score to The Magnificent Seven.
“The audience was clearly wowed, however, when Mr. Bernstein himself—regarded by insiders as the greatest film composer of the second half of the century just past—hustled onstage to conduct a rousing suite from this score to “The Magnificent Seven.” –The Dallas Morning News, January 8, 2001
The audience exploded into a spontaneous standing ovation at the conclusion of the suite.
The Dallas appearance was the first of many such appearances and honors scheduled for 2001, marking his Fiftieth Anniversary of composing music for feature films, a first in the motion picture industry.
Maestro Elmer Bernstein was honored November 8th by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in celebration of his 50th Anniversary of film scoring. Carl Reiner emceed the evening that included a variety of hosted segments covering drama, westerns, comedy, jazz, epic and a special section featuring his projects with Martin Scorsese. 
Welcome to the 5th Anniversary Season of The Henry Mancini Institute, an organization that’s dedicated to answering the question, “What does it mean to be a professional musician in today’s world?”