I just became aware of this video from the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts. It was filmed in 1966. Leonard Bernstein introduces the conductor for Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition – the young James DePreist (he was 30 years old at the time). It’s amazing to see all the mannerisms that I grew to love (and some not so much) nearly 30 years later when I joined the Oregon Symphony. What a remarkable and beautiful human being he was.
4 replies on “James DePreist conducting in 1966”
Very interesting! Thanks for posting. The days of all-male orchestras are behind us, but not that long, it appears. And how does the TV producer manage to ignore the trumpet soloist in Promenade, especially given the build up from Leonard Bernstein??
Well, many orchestras now are at *least* 50 percent female, if not more. I’d say that the real change started in the 70’s and kept on rolling. Fifty years is a good amount of time for such a major change to occur. But it is surprising to see how male-dominated the profession once was! And I agree about the trumpet – where was that director?
Good point, Charles – fifty years is indeed a long time. My perception of the passing of time has shortened with advancing age.
I am also aware of that phenomenon!