Recent Performances

LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Centennial Finale Concert

WORLD PREMIERES of new orchestrations of

DYBBUK

FANCY FREE

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Jayce Ogren, conductor

June 14, 2019, 8:00

$20

Dimenna Center for Classical Music

450 West 37th Street, Manhattan (map)

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LOST DOG  presents the Finale of the Leonard Bernstein Centennial in New York City, with the world premiere of new orchestrations of Bernstein's Dybbuk and Fancy Free.

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Fancy Free (1944) was Bernstein's breakthrough work, one of his first major public successes as a young composer, and the inspiration for the hit musical On The Town. The ballet tells the story of three sailors on leave in New York City during World War II, on the prowl for adventure (and girls!). The score is celebration of New York, a sparkling touchstone of Bernstein's jazzy, populist style, and of a young composer eager to show off his tremendous talent.

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Dybbuk (1974), one of Bernstein's last major works, is one of his greatest achievements as a composer. At turns eerie, wild, savage, and beautiful, the work is inspired by Ansky's classic Yiddish play about a demonic possession. The score is inspired by Kabbalistic numerology, and the resulting music is unlike anything else in Bernstein's catalogue. Extremely virtuosic and challenging, the score is very rarely heard; this will be the only concert performance of the score during the Leonard Bernstein Centennial, fulfilling Lost Dog's mission to shed light on important neglected repertoire.

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This concert performance of these ballet scores will feature the world premiere of new orchestrations created by Garth Edwin Sunderland, Lost Dog's Artistic Director, and Vice President for Creative Projects for The Leonard Bernstein Office. These sinfonietta orchestrations will offer a new, more intimate perspective of these major works, which bookend Bernstein's storied, iconic career. Bernstein specialist Jayce Ogren, noted for his performances of Bernstein's Opera A Quiet Place at New York City Opera, as well as the West Side Story Film with Live Orchestra project with major orchestras around the world, will conduct. The concert also coincides with the Jerome Robbins Centennial: Robbins was the choreographer of both ballets, as well as Bernstein's life-long friend and collaborator.

Leonard Bernstein by Paul de Hueck,

Courtesy of The Leonard Bernstin Office

Leonard Bernstein at the piano,

courtesy of The Leonard Berstein Office

Jayce Ogren

photo by Rebecca Fay

Garth Edwin Sunderland

photo by Matt Carr