The Best Episodes of New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts

Every episode of New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts!

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From 1958 through 1973, renowned conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra thrilled audiences with wonderful concert experiences presented in a sparkling music-with-commentary format: the Young People's Concerts.

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 36 - What is a Mode?
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - What is a Mode?

    S1:E36

    Bernstein discusses scales, intervals and tones, and analyzes several pieces, including Debussy's Fêtes, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, and music from the Kinks and the Beatles, to illustrate different modes. An excerpt from Bernstein's ballet Fancy Free is also performed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 21 - What is a Melody?
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - What is a Melody?

    S1:E21

    Bernstein discusses the different forms melody can take, including tune, theme, motive, melodic line and musical phrase. He illustrates by conducting the orchestra in excerpts from Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Mozart, Hindemith, and Brahms.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 22 - Young Performers No. 4
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Young Performers No. 4

    S1:E22

    Joan Weiner; Yuri Krasnopolsky; Claudia Hoca; Zoltán Rozsnyai; Pamela Paul; Serge Fournier; André Watts

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 23 - The Latin American Spirit
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #4 - The Latin American Spirit

    S1:E23

    Bernstein discusses "the two ingredients that give this music its special Latin flavor: rhythm and color." Excerpts include Bernstein's own Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 24 - A Tribute to Teachers
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - A Tribute to Teachers

    S1:E24

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 25 - Young Performers No. 5
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #6 - Young Performers No. 5

    S1:E25

    Heidi Lehwalder; Amos Eisenberg; Weldon Berry, Jr.; Claudio Abbado; Shulamit Ran (as Shulamith Ran); Pedro Calderon; Stephen E. Kates; Zdeněk Košler

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts

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  7. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 26 - The Genius of Paul Hindemith
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - The Genius of Paul Hindemith

    S1:E26

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 30 - Young Performers No. 6
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Young Performers No. 6

    S1:E30

    Patricia Michaelian; James Boswell IV

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 31 - A Tribute to Sibelius
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - A Tribute to Sibelius

    S1:E31

    Bernstein celebrates the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, and comments on Finland, the Finnish language, and Finnish patriotism, as well as Sibelius himself. Works by the composer, including Finlandia and the first movement of his Violin Concerto, with soloist Sergiu Luca, are performed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 33 - The Sound of an Orchestra
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - The Sound of an Orchestra

    S1:E33

    Bernstein explains that the duty of the orchestra is to reproduce faithfully the notes and instructions of the composer. The main focus is the first half of Haydn's Symphony No. 88. The opening music is deliberately played incorrectly and errors are pointed out.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 34 - A Birthday Tribute to Shostakovich
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - A Birthday Tribute to Shostakovich

    S1:E34

    Bernstein celebrates Dmitri Shostakovich's sixtieth birthday by discussing his work and conducting an excerpt from his Symphony No. 7 and all of Symphony No. 9.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 35 - Young Performers No. 7
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Young Performers No. 7

    S1:E35

    Performers include Paul Schoenfeld; Stephanie Sebastian; David Oei; Horacio Gutiérrez; James DePreist; Jacques Houtmann; Edo de Waart.

    Director:Unknown
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  13. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 37 - Young Performers No. 8
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Young Performers No. 8

    S1:E37

    Elmar Oliveira; Mark Salkind; Fred Alston; Donald Green; Juan Pablo Izquierdo; Sylvia Caduff; George Reid; Young Uck Kim

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 38 - Charles Ives: American Pioneer
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Charles Ives: American Pioneer

    S1:E38

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 39 - Alumni Reunion
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Alumni Reunion

    S1:E39

    Stephen E. Kates; Veronica Tyler; André Watts

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 40 - A Toast to Vienna in 3/4 Time
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - A Toast to Vienna in 3/4 Time

    S1:E40

    Bernstein pays tribute to New York Philharmonic's "fraternal orchestra," the Vienna Philharmonic, in celebration of the 125th anniversary of both orchestras. Works by Johann and Richard Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, and Mahler are performed, preceded by a brief discussion.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 41 - Forever Beethoven
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Forever Beethoven

    S1:E41

    Joseph Kalichstein; Paul Capolongo

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 43 - Quiz-Concert: How Musical Are You?
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Quiz-Concert: How Musical Are You?

    S1:E43

    Leonard Bernstein quizzes Avery Fisher Hall and television audiences on their musicality. Highlights include true-or-false questions with musical examples, and excerpts from Mozart, Prokofiev, and Rimsky-Korsakov.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 44 - Fantastic Variations (Don Quixote)
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Fantastic Variations (Don Quixote)

    S1:E44

    Lorne Munroe, cellist

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 45 - Bach Transmogrified
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Bach Transmogrified

    S1:E45

    Michael Korn; Leopold Stokowski; Moog synthesizer; New York Rock and Roll Ensemble

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 46 - Berlioz Takes a Trip
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Berlioz Takes a Trip

    S1:E46

    Bernstein discusses what he describes as the "first psychedelic symphony," Berlioz's La Symphonie fantastique, examining the concept of the idée fixe in music and illustrating this concept with excerpts froth first movement. Bernstein analyzes the music and discusses the story line of the remaining movements, which are performed by the Philharmonic.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 47 - Two Ballet Birds
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Two Ballet Birds

    S1:E47

    Bernstein compares the main theme of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake with Stravinsky's Firebird. A performance of the pas de deux from Swan Lake illustrates the concept of abstract ballet, followed by excerpts from Stravinsky's Firebird.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 48 - Fidelio: A Celebration of Life
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - Fidelio: A Celebration of Life

    S1:E48

    Bernstein takes a look at Beethoven's so-called "flawed masterpiece" - his only opera, Fidelio. After discussing the story and its problems, "charming excerpts" are performed. Four vocal selection from Act II follow, each preceded by analysis and plot summary.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 50 - A Copland Celebration
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - A Copland Celebration

    S1:E50

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Season 1 Episode 51 - Thus Spake Richard Strauss
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Thus Spake Richard Strauss

    S1:E51

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"What is a Mode?" is the best rated episode of "New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts". It scored 9/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/23/1966. This episode scored 1.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "What is a Melody?".