Bernstein Conducts Bernstein

The way Leonard Bernstein got his conducting debut reads like a classical music fairy tale. On November 14th 1943, then Music Director Bruno Walter suddenly fell ill with the flu right before the ensemble was slated to play at Carnegie Hall. 25 year-old Bernstein, with no rehearsal, stepped up to take his place, leading the ensemble through a program that was being broadcast to the entire nation.  Bernstein went on to become a frequent guest conductor with the orchestra until eventually becoming its Music Director from 1958- 1969. Here he is conducting the New York Philharmonic in music that he himself had written.