OVERTURE

Leonard Bernstein at the podium of the Winter Garden Theater Broadway Return Engagement April 27, 1960

The intention of Leonard Bernstein was to have the musical begin without an overture. The rather stark and, at the time, unconventional idea has provided enormous dramatic value to productions that go this route. Mr. Bernstein’s feelings on this matter are clearly demonstrated by the absence of an overture in the otherwise comprehensive Deutsche Grammophon recording of the work under his baton. Also in accord with the composer’s wishes is the absence of an overture in the painstakingly thorough and magnificent Conductor’s Score published by Boosey & Hawkes (though B&H has whispered the existence of a separate book containing an overture, presumably available in plain brown wrapper.)

The Overture in question was prepared by the orchestrators and not by the composer and has been played in a number of important productions, though not, by several reliable accounts, in the original. With a graciousness that almost matches his genius, Mr. Bernstein put aside his disapproval of the piece and agreed to conduct the Overture for the premiere of the triumphal Return Engagement on Broadway in April of 1960. Prolonged applause greeted his entrance and was enthusiastically repeated at the conclusion of the piece. How much more special could the evening have been than by having the proceedings kicked off by the work's gifted composer?

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