Walter, Bruno. (1876–1962) [Translated from the German by James A. Galston.]
Theme and Variations: An Autobiography - Leonard Bernstein's Signed Copy
New York: Knopf. 1946. First American edition. A nice association copy from the library of Leonard Bernstein [Sotheby Sale 7070, Lot 158], signed by Bruno Walter on the half-title.Octavo, brick red cloth titled in gilt on the front cover & spine. The binding is lightly rubbed & bumped and the spine is faded. xi, 344 & xx pages [index] plus colophon. Illustrated in black & white with a portrait frontispiece & 14 full-page illustrations. Very good.
A notation "Page 223" on the front endpaper, made either by Walter or Bernstein refers to a passage, marked in the margin, where Walter hears the pantomime "The Snowman", written by Erich Wolfgang Korngold at the age of eleven. Walter later conducted the first performance of two one-act operas by the eighteen-year-old Korngold.
A dramatic musical occasion occurred on November 14, 1943 when Walter, who was scheduled to guest conduct the New York Philharmonic, became ill shortly before the concert and Bernstein, the assistant conductor of the Philharmonic, substituted for Walter at short notice, attracting enthusiastic reviews and wide notice as a result. (4959)
Signed Document/Item Classical Music