Martin Bookspan
Encyclopedia
Martin Bookspan is an announcer, commentator and author. He was the announcer on the PBS
series Live from Lincoln Center
from its beginnings in 1976 until 2006, when he retired and was replaced by Fred Child
. For years he was also announcer for the Live from the Met
series on PBS (which eventually became The Metropolitan Opera Presents).
He attended Harvard University
majoring in German literature and in 1944, at the age of 18, first broadcast on the college's radio station, WHRB
. He graduated from Harvard in 1947.
Bookspan also served as the new announcer for the VHS and DVD editions of legendary conductor Arturo Toscanini
's television concerts. Originally telecast on NBC between 1948 and 1952, the original announcements on the restored kinescopes were deemed sonically unsuitable for modern tastes, and so were supplanted by Bookspan's announcements in hi-fi.
He spent eleven years (1956 to 1967) at radio station WQXR
in New York, where he was music director and program director. He is also the author of several books.
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
series Live from Lincoln Center
Live from Lincoln Center
Live From Lincoln Center is an ongoing series of musical performances produced by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in conjunction with Thirteen/WNET in New York City....
from its beginnings in 1976 until 2006, when he retired and was replaced by Fred Child
Fred Child
Fred Child is an American radio host. He is the host of the classical music radio program Performance Today on American Public Media. He is also the announcer and commentator for the PBS program Live from Lincoln Center.-Life:...
. For years he was also announcer for the Live from the Met
Live from the Met
Live from the Metropolitan Opera is an American television program that presented performances of complete operas from the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, on the Public Broadcasting Service television network. The program began in 1977, and was telecast live for its first few seasons...
series on PBS (which eventually became The Metropolitan Opera Presents).
He attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
majoring in German literature and in 1944, at the age of 18, first broadcast on the college's radio station, WHRB
WHRB
WHRB is a commercial FM radio station in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It broadcasts at 95.3 MHz and is operated by students at Harvard College.-History:...
. He graduated from Harvard in 1947.
Bookspan also served as the new announcer for the VHS and DVD editions of legendary conductor Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
's television concerts. Originally telecast on NBC between 1948 and 1952, the original announcements on the restored kinescopes were deemed sonically unsuitable for modern tastes, and so were supplanted by Bookspan's announcements in hi-fi.
He spent eleven years (1956 to 1967) at radio station WQXR
WQEW
WQEW is a Radio Disney affiliate licensed to New York City. Its transmitter is located in Maspeth, Queens. WQEW has a transmitter power of 50,000 watts and is listed as a Clear-channel station...
in New York, where he was music director and program director. He is also the author of several books.
External links
- "Live from Lincoln Center", PBS website