Dear Mr. Bernstein

What do crockery and sweat have to do with the history of classical music? The answer lies with its fans.

Meet hosts Dr. Kate Guthrie and Dr. Flora Willson as they discuss why we need to talk about classical music fandom. 

We share stories of fandom from our own lives. We tell the story of how Leonard Bernstein, the composer of West Side Story, became the most famous classical music star of his generation. And we reveal how the thousands of fan letters he received ended up in DC’s prestigious Library of Congress.

We discuss the wackiest letters from the archive, including one from a group of nuns who had created a Bernstein-themed table-setting for a competition; one from a couple who wanted to own a piece of Bernstein’s crockery; and another from a listener who thought Bernstein was too sweaty.

Finally, meet letter-writer Cheryl Melody Baskin, who describes her surprise at being reunited with a letter she sent to Bernstein over 6 decades ago.

Send us Fan Mail

Visit www.dearmaestro.org for bonus content, including letters read-out and discussed by their writers.

Email us at [email protected] - we'd love to hear from you!

Producers: Rowan Bishop and Kate Guthrie

Hosts: Flora Willson and Kate Guthrie

With thanks to: Cheryl Melody Baskin, Michael Ellison, Cassandra Fenton, Mark Keedwell, Melanie Shaffer, Karen Skinazi, Chuck Talley and Justin Williams. 

Funded by: the Arts and Humanities Research Council.