Rare 1978 Leonard Bernstein film to air on Ovation TV

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We’re a step ahead of New York City when it comes to celebrating one of the music world’s brightest lights:

‘Bernstein:The Best of All Possible Worlds’ is the name of an upcoming two-month festival celebrating the life and work of Leonard Bernstein, jointly sponsored by Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic. The Sept. 24-Dec.13 extravaganza launches with an all-Bernstein concert in Carnegie performed by the San Francisco Symphony.

But the West Coast gets to see it first: The program, to be conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas and featuring Dawn Upshaw and Yo-Yo Ma, will be performed Wednesday through Friday at San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall.

And if San Francisco isn’t close enough for you, you can get a little Leonard right in your living room: On Tuesday, Sept. 23, in honor of the 50th anniversary of Bernstein’s Carnegie Hall debut, Ovation TV arts network will offer the premiere of ‘Leonard Bernstein’s Reflections,’ a film produced in 1978.

The documentary was produced 30 years ago, but due to contractual red tape, it was not able to be shown in the U.S. until now, says Ovation. The film traces Bernstein’s career from his Carnegie Hall debut through the 1977 Leonard Bernstein Festival in Israel and includes visits to his home and studio. For information on airtimes and channels in your area, visit the Ovation website.

— Diane Haithman