Bernstein’s NY Phil assistant has died
mainThe conductor and composer Russell Stanger, longtime music director of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, died today aged 90. Obit here.
He assisted Lenny 1960-62.
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Russell Stanger passed away last week, in fact.
He also led the orchestra at the New York State Summer School of the Arts School of Orchestral Studies in Saratoga Springs, NY for many years. Alumni of this program are planning a reunion in his honor:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1592210974335890/
Thanks for the reunion info, BB. Maestro Stanger was a very inspiring, caring, gifted, dramatic conductor and composer. He was the first really great conductor I ever worked with when at the age of 15 I was concertmaster of the camp in Saratoga Springs. I’ll never forget learning Tchaikovsky Pathetique, Beethoven 7, and Barber Adagio for Strings. He knew Barber personally – I’ll never forget in the dress rehearsal how he looked to the ceiling and said, “this one’s for you Sam.” And we played our hearts out! RIP Maestro Stanger and thank you for inspiring and leaving lasting impressions on so many of us.
His twin brother herb was like an uncle to me. I got to attend a number of Russells concerts a wonderful memory