Na Sung-in
The author is a music critic and director of the classical music brand Poongwoldang.
Leonard Bernstein was one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century. With his wide repertoire, versatility and original yet disciplined interpretations, he was often seen as a rival to Herbert von Karajan. But the two projected very different images. Karajan was known for his stern and almost mystical charisma, while Bernstein appeared polished, relaxed and approachable. His television appearances also made him more familiar to the public.
Leonard Bernstein leads the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in the inaugural concert in New York's new Philharmonic Hall on Sept. 24, 1962. [AP/YONHAP]
The media frequently compared the two conductors, turning their rivalry into a cultural topic of its own. The symbolic contrast between the Berlin Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic added to such comparisons, and after Bernstein established himself in Vienna, the comparison shifted to the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. If Karajan was admired above all for opera, Bernstein built a strong reputation as an interpreter of composers and contemporary music.
