Canton Library Celebrates Leonard Bernstein's 100th

On Saturday, February 16, at 2:00 p.m., enjoy a free talk at Canton Public Library called "Leonard Bernstein at 100: An American Treasure.” Musician and lecturer Jeffrey Engel will share his deep understanding of the famed conductor/composer on the 100th anniversary year of his birth. A graduate of Ithaca College and the Sorbonne in Paris, Mr. Engel brings a lively and entertaining (but not overly technical) spin on Bernstein, the most gifted, famous, popular and successful musician ever produced by America.

Born in Massachusetts, Bernstein was a virtuoso pianist and conductor, a composer of music ranging from Broadway musicals to the classical repertory, an educator, a lecturer, an author and a TV personality. There was very little he couldn’t do extremely well. His musicals, such as West Side Story, On the Town and Candide, are still performed and loved.

With images, recordings and keyboard-played musical illustrations, Mr. Engel gives a performance/lecture that comes highly recommended. Since 2004 Mr. Engel, who is also fluent in French and an accomplished cellist, has taught at Northwestern Connecticut Community College (Winsted)

Registration is required. For information or to register, please call (860) 693-5800, or email bvanness@libraryconnection.info. The library can be found at 40 Dyer Avenue in Canton, and at www.cantonpubliclibrary.org. online.