Lenny’s Mahler

Regarding “Leonard Bernstein--the Man Who Invented Mahler,” by Herbert Glass (Jan. 3):

We fully agree that Bernstein was the forerunner among Mahler supporters during the past 30 years. Historically, he joined Mahler’s two promoters--Bruno Walter and Willem Mengelberg, who took up his cause earlier in the century.

Many Mahlerites claim that 99% of Mahler’s recordings have been made after the appearance of Bernstein’s famous Mahler symphonic cycle during the 1960s, all joining, as it were, the popularity stampede that he led. Many others insist that his recordings represent the yardstick by which all others should be measured. Bernstein does have his worshipers as well as detractors among Mahlerites, but none minimize his contributions to Mahler’s music.

Lenny, as he actually enjoyed being called, always referred to Mahler as “my alter ego,” “my soul brother” or “my other being.” In fact, other than being Jewish, the two were not very much alike. Mahler was full of fear and pessimism; Bernstein always the optimist, full of life.

We agree completely with Glass regarding his recording of Mahler’s Ninth with the Berlin Philharmonic but do not believe that it was his “sole encounter” with that fine orchestra. Wasn’t Lenny seen on television all over the world conducting the combined orchestras of the Berlin Philharmonic and the (East) Berlin Symphony in Beethoven’s Ninth right after the Berlin Wall opened? The emotional outpouring on that occasion displayed him at his schmaltzy best.

All in all, what more can I say but that we really miss him.

AVIK GILBOA

President, Gustav Mahler

Society USA, Los Angeles