Newspaper Article

NEW YORK FORUM ABOUT THE MAESTRO Mr. Bernstein's Grand Bequest

By Leonard Slatkin. Leonard Slatkin, music director of

1990

Overview

During the '50s, we began to see clear political motivation in his music - and his life. Later, his controversial association with the Black Panthers and his increasing camaraderie with those involved in leftist causes made Mr. [Bernstein] a target of critics with more conservative views of how artists should behave. In effect, they told him, \"Let your music be heard but do not let us see you.\" As music director of the New York Philharmonic, Maestro Bernstein not only shared his talent and energies with the entire country, he also helped restore the international stature the New York orchestra had enjoyed under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. Mr. Bernstein's championing of American music became a signal for the composers of his time to increase their output. At the same time, he introduced many Americans to the works of Gustav Mahler, Charles Ives and other overlooked composers.

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