Dear Maestro
The untold story of classical music fandom.
What does it mean to “be a fan” of something? We usually associate the phrase with raucous sports enthusiasts or wild popular music devotees – the likes of Swifties and Stans, Beatlemaniacs or the Beyhive. With its silent audiences and erudite atmosphere, classical music probably doesn’t spring immediately to mind.
But classical music fandom totally exists, and we’ve got the receipts to prove it!
Join hosts Dr. Kate Guthrie and Dr. Flora Willson on a journey through the untold story of classical music fandom. In Series 1, we uncover a historic collection of fan mail sent to none other than the Leonard Bernstein – composer of West Side Story, celebrity conductor, and pin-up for a generation of classical music lovers. We also interrogate some of the original fan mail writers, asking what motivated them to put pen to paper over a half a century ago.
Always entertaining, at times deeply moving, and sometimes rather raunchy, Dear Maestro gives a glimpse into the feverish desires and heart-felt longing that drive people’s passion for classical music.
Find out more at https://www.dearmaestro.org or get in touch at hello@dearmaestro.org
Episodes
9 episodes
Dear Mr. Bernstein
What do crockery and sweat have to do with the history of classical music? The answer lies with its fans.Meet hosts Dr. Kate Guthrie and Dr. Flora Willson as they discuss why we need to talk about classical music fandom. We s...
This is no fan letter
From ‘Swifties’ to ‘Trekkies’, ‘Potterheads’ to ‘Twihards’, fans of popular culture often proclaim their fandom with pride. But the idea of fandom still seems to make the classical music world uncomfortable. In this episode, we ask:...
Longhair music
For decades, critics have been slamming the classical music world for its elitism. Meanwhile, fans insist that classical music is for everyone. What’s all the fuss about?In this episode, we ask: why is classical music’s elitist reputatio...
Emotional summits
Ask any classical music boffin, and they’ll tell you that you can’t just listen to classical music. It’s a skill that you have to learn. But what about our gut response to music – where does that come into it? In this episode, we as...
Look at that gorgeous body!
Classical music usually conjures up images of civilised rather than raunchy behaviour. But many of Bernstein’s fans found him seriously sexy – and they were not afraid to tell him.In this episode, we ask: how did Bernstein’s body help to...
My friends snigger
The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Bob Dylan, the Sex Pistols … the soundtracks of teenage self-discovery are many. Rarely do we think to include classical music on such a list – but Bernstein’s young fans show that it should be. In this ep...