1960s Timeline

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Mar 3

Stravinsky Composing “Elegy for John F. Kennedy”

Mar. 3, 1964 - Composer Igor Stravinsky (pictured right in 1962) is writing a work for solo voice and instruments in memory of President...

Aug 30, 2023

Bernstein Battles Baseball at Bowl

Aug. 30, 1963 - Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic made their first appearance at the Hollywood Bowl last night since 1960,...

Apr 22, 2023

President Kennedy Introduces Musical Program

Apr. 22, 1963 - Here are President Kennedy's remarks of welcome today to the Berea College dance troupe and the Central Kentucky Youth...

Jan 30, 2023

Composer Francis Poulenc Is Dead

Jan. 30, 1963 - Francis Poulenc (pictured in 1952), one of the most important French contemporary composers, died of a heart attack at...

Sep 24, 2022

First Lady Helps Celebrate Opening of Philharmonic Hall

Sept. 24, 1962 - A new epoch in New York’s concert life began last night with the opening of Philharmonic Hall, the first unit of the...

Aug 6, 2022

President Kennedy Compliments Youth Orchestra

Aug. 6, 1962 - President Kennedy told an audience of young concertgoers today that symphonic music had a great hold on the affections of...

Aug 6, 2022

JFK Speaks at High School Youth Concert (2/2)

Aug. 6, 1962 - Here is a clip of President Kennedy’s remarks today at a concert by the National High School Symphony Orchestra of the...

Aug 6, 2022

JFK Speaks at High School Youth Concert (1/2)

Aug. 6, 1962 - Here is a clip of President Kennedy’s remarks today at a concert by the National High School Symphony Orchestra of the...

Jul 5, 2022

CBS to Televise More Specials with Conductor Leonard Bernstein

July 5, 1962 - Negotiations are under way for the continuation next season of a series of eight telecasts with Leonard Bernstein...

Apr 16, 2022

President and Mrs. Kennedy Attend a Youth Concert at the White House

Apr. 16, 1962 - President Kennedy and his wife entertained nearly 600 young people today at a musicale on the south lawn of the White...

Feb 20, 2022

Funeral in Beverly Hills for Conductor Bruno Walter

Feb. 20, 1962 - A funeral service was held in Beverly Hills, Calif., today for Bruno Walter (pictured in 1935), the noted conductor who...

Dec 27, 2021

Van Cliburn Record Goes Gold

Dec. 27, 1961 - Van Cliburn’s recording of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 has become the first classical long-playing album to...

Nov 13, 2021

Chamber Music at the White House

Nov. 13, 1961 - Cellist Pablo Casals, violinist Alexander Schneider, and pianist Mieczyslaw Horszowski played the chamber music of...

Oct 17, 2021

President and Mrs. Kennedy Attend National Symphony Concert

Oct. 17, 1961 - President and Mrs. Kennedy tonight attended half the opening performance of the National Symphony Orchestra’s concert...

Jul 25, 2021

Negro Opera Singer Hailed in Bayreuth after Wagner Performance

July 25, 1961 - Grace Bumbry, American Negro singer, was hailed today in Bayreuth for her performance as Venus in Wagner's "Tannhäuser"...

Jul 22, 2021

Some Germans Protest Grace Bumbry, Negro Opera Singer, in Wagner's "Tannhäuser"

July 22, 1961 - Richard Wagner's grandson today angrily rejected protests against the choice of Grace Bumbry (pictured), a Negro...