Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade
Bernstein’s Serenade is a disguised violin concerto, inspired by Plato’s Symposium. Clara-Jumi Kang is the violin soloist, under the direction of Ryan Bancroft.
Play premiere
Watch completely free and without login.
Tuesday 28 April 2026 15.00
About the video
- Published online 28 April 2026.
- Filmed 18 and 21 March 2026.
- The video is approximately 30 minutes.
When Leonard Bernstein completed Serenade in 1954, he had already established himself as one of America’s most versatile musical figures: conductor, pianist and composer. The 1950s proved a highly productive decade for the young Bernstein, particularly in musical theatre: Trouble in Tahiti (1952), Wonderful Town (1953), Candide (1956) – and, of course, West Side Story (1957).
Although Serenade can be described as a violin concerto, Bernstein chose a different title. The word “serenade” suggests something freer and more reflective than the traditional concerto’s tug-of-war between soloist and orchestra. Here the relationship is rather dialogic – a musical counterpart to the philosophical conversation that inspired the work: Plato’s Symposium, in which a number of speakers praise love from different perspectives.
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft, with Clara-Jumi Kang as soloist – Konserthuset’s Artist-in-Residence during the 2025/26 season.
-
The music
-
Leonard Bernstein Serenade for violin and orchestra
-
Participants
-
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
-
Ryan Bancroft conductor
-
Clara-Jumi Kang violin
