Aaron Copland always harbored a secret desire to conduct, but his mentor, legendary Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor Serge Koussevitzky, advised him to stay home and write.
After Koussevitzky's death in 1951, Copland eagerly took up the baton. NPR's Fred Calland spoke with Aaron Copland about his conducting during their 1980 interview.
Included in this interview segment is a rare treat: a 1973 recording of Copland rehearsing the Columbia Records Orchestra for a performance of Appalachian Spring. This is followed by a Seattle Symphony performance of Appalachian Spring.
Full-length Seattle Symphony Orchestra concert broadcasts are heard on many NPR member stations through the WFMT Radio Network.
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