Bernstein at 100


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander Frey has been called “Bernstein’s leading interpreter” (The Prague Post), having performed and recorded the legendary composer-conductor’s music extensively, including several world premieres. Through his friendship with Bernstein, and the experience of having studied his music with him, Frey has received critical acclaim for the great depth and special insight of his performances of Bernstein’s music.

During 2017-2019, Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday will be commemorated in musical celebrations all over the world. Alexander Frey will be one of the featured performers taking part in many of these events.

IUMA Management, announces that Alexander Frey will be available as conductor, pianist and lecturer, conducting all-Bernstein concerts and theater works, performing the complete piano works, and as soloist in Bernstein’s Symphony no. 2 for piano and orchestra (The Age of Anxiety). Engagement bookings can be made by contacting IUMA Managament (see the Contact page of this website for the information).

Alexander Frey has given the world premieres of Leonard Bernstein’s Five Anniversaries, Thirteen Anniversaries, Valse Gaea, Spring Will Come Again and the full score of Peter Pan.

Frey was the first person to perform Bernstein’s complete piano works in public, and he has played the entire cycle in concerts throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Frey’s highly acclaimed CD, Leonard Bernstein: The Complete Works for Solo Piano (on the Koch International Classics label) is considered to be the definitive recording of this repertoire to this day. Alexander Frey is also universally credited for having brought Leonard Bernstein’s full score to Peter Pan to the public for the first time. This included an hour of previously unheard Bernstein music which he painstakingly restored from the composer’s manuscripts. Frey conducted the best-selling world premiere recording of Peter Pan on the Koch International Classics label, which featured Broadway superstar Linda Eder and internationally acclaimed baritone Daniel Narducci, and also included the first performance of the song Spring Will Come Again from Bernstein’s unfinished musical, The Skin of Our Teeth. Frey conducted the world premiere performance of Peter Pan in Cascais, Portugal in a concert version with an international cast and the Gulbenkian Orchestra. Following these performances, he conducted the world premiere stage production of Peter Pan in Santa Barbara.