February 27th Lara Downes - For Lenny

Leonard Bernstein is a treasure of American music.  The son of Ukranian immigrants he was a prolific composer, pianist, educator, and conductor associated with New York Philharmonic for forty-seven years. The conservative culture of classical music wouldn't let a gay man hold a prestigious conducting position so he lived his whole life in the closet. Leonard Bernstein was born in 1918.  in honor of his 100^th birthday pianist Lara Downes has released a tribute to Lenny, twenty-eight tracks which beautifully encapsulate the spirit of the man and his music. The album is called For Lenny, the track we’re hearing is The Story of my Life.