Bright Lights

In America, the rise of the celebrity conductor began-and seemingly ended with-Leonard Bernstein. Aside from conducting the New York Philharmonic for nearly fifty years, the charismatic classical ambassador also wrote a handful of musicals for the Great White Way. It is those works on which the Pacific Symphony will be focusing. In On the Town, three lusty sailors are set loose into the bosom of Manhattan, while West Side Story introduced the least threatening street punks of the twentieth century who solve their Shakespearean predicament with finger snaps and jazz hands. But for all Lenny's notoriety, some people still cannot get his name right. It's "stein", like the pint glass. Ever hear anyone refer to "Einsteen"?
Sat., Aug. 9, 8 p.m., 2008