npr: “We are in Vienna,” imagines NPR’s Robert Krulwich. “Leonard Bernstein is on the podium. The Vienna Philharmonic is on the stage, Haydn’s Symphony no.88 is in the air, and our question is: Where are Bernstein’s hands?  Why isn’t he using his hands? He’s moving nothing — except his face.” Replies Ezra Block: “My friend George Steel, Director of the New York City Opera calls this technique ‘eyebrows only,’ though as you can see, his chin is working, his eyes are darting, his mouth is up, down. He’s liking, noticing, saying thank you using only his face muscles. You should let people see this.” Krulwich: “Ok, ok. Here’s Leonard Bernstein finishing an encore performance of the 4th movement of Haydn’s 88th. Watch the man.”

npr:

“We are in Vienna,” imagines NPR’s Robert Krulwich. “Leonard Bernstein is on the podium. The Vienna Philharmonic is on the stage, Haydn’s Symphony no.88 is in the air, and our question is: Where are Bernstein’s hands?  Why isn’t he using his hands? He’s moving nothing — except his face.”

Replies Ezra Block: “My friend George Steel, Director of the New York City Opera calls this technique ‘eyebrows only,’ though as you can see, his chin is working, his eyes are darting, his mouth is up, down. He’s liking, noticing, saying thank you using only his face muscles. You should let people see this.”

Krulwich: “Ok, ok. Here’s Leonard Bernstein finishing an encore performance of the 4th movement of Haydn’s 88th. Watch the man.”

Notes

  1. maestroleonardbernstein reblogged this from npr
  2. dccheung reblogged this from nyphil
  3. genkiu reblogged this from npr
  4. braydonfish reblogged this from npr
  5. violinphoenix reblogged this from nyphil
  6. huyhoquocho reblogged this from nyphil and added:
    Reminds me of the conductor’s symposium when McCauley and Kirchhoff would do the ‘use your face only’ technique. Awesome
  7. deus-ex-musica reblogged this from nyphil and added:
    THIS MAN IS MY IDOL.
  8. jaycaparino reblogged this from jasonweinberger
  9. rebecca-c reblogged this from nyphil and added:
    I have a somewhat newly discovered appreciation for Bernstein. This is mostly stemmed from my love of his speaking...
  10. kittycatcentral reblogged this from artemisdreaming
  11. artemisdreaming reblogged this from hallchristopher
  12. snarkysoprano reblogged this from nyphil
  13. nyphil reblogged this from npr
  14. luchhiiaa reblogged this from jasonweinberger
  15. belacqui reblogged this from npr
  16. oofoofoofoofoofoofbaha reblogged this from npr
  17. aboxofpaints reblogged this from jasonweinberger
  18. irredenta reblogged this from csmonitor
  19. ashleybenham reblogged this from npr
  20. violinplayah reblogged this from npr
  21. nancyveronika reblogged this from npr
  22. thenextshot reblogged this from markcoatney
  23. csmonitor reblogged this from npr
  24. andidigress reblogged this from npr