Martin Bookspan: My friends Leonard Bernstein & Aaron Copeland
Martin Bookspan had life-long friendships with two great classical music geniuses, Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland.
As the voice of the PBS television series Live from Lincoln Center from 1976 to 2006, Martin Bookspan riveted audiences with his eloquently distinctive voice and extensive knowledge of classical music. The N.Y. Times (May 24, 2006) described Bookspan as “One half erudite informer, the other half grandfatherly guide, [who kept audiences] tuned in during intermissions with easy-to-digest program notes and anecdotes.”
A generous supporter of the Judaica Sound Archives at Florida Atlantic University Libraries, Bookspan spoke before a sold-out audience at FAU Libraries’ 2013 Kultur Festival in March.
Still debonair and dynamic, Bookspan demonstrated that he has not lost an iota of his stage presence or his ability to mesmerize an audience as he shared wonderful stories and personal photographs of his friends Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland.
Now you can experience the uniquely personal stories of this classical music maven for yourselves. The Judaica Sound Archives has created video clip highlights from this unique event for you to enjoy. Of special interest is the broadcast recording of Martin Bookspan interviewing Leonard Bernstein live on the radio.
Please click below for video clip highlights from Bookspan’s appearance at FAU’s Wimberly Library in March 2013.
My Friends: Leonard Bernstein & Aaron Copland
Presented by Martin Bookspan at FAU’s Wimberly Library on March 5, 2013
(1) Bookspan talks about the young Leonard Bernstein
(2) Bookspan interviews Leonard Bernstein
(3) Bookspan remembers Aaron Copland
(4) Copland’s Lincoln Portrait