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Leonard Bernstein Dedicates His New Symphony ‘Kaddish’ to Kennedy

December 10, 1963
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Leonard Bernstein, famed American-Jewish composer and conductor, announced here yesterday that he has dedicated his new symphony, “Kaddish,” to “the beloved memory of president John F. Kennedy.” Mr. Bernstein said that he will play the new symphony in its world premiere this week in Jerusalem, where he will conduct the Israeli Philharmonic in the new work.

The maestro told newsmen that the Boston Symphony Orchestra had ordered the work eight years ago, and that it had taken him seven years to complete the symphony. He said that, while all rights to the work had been reserved by the Boston orchestra, he had obtained an agreement that, because of the Jewish character of the symphony, its premiere would take place in Israel.

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