Conductor, composer and consummate New Yorker Leonard Bernstein led televised New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts in Carnegie Hall from 1958 to 1972. Many watchers felt they knew the legend.

Those who really did know Bernstein found the Carnegie Hall season opener to be especially satisfying – as an all-star concert tribute, featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma, paid tribute to the composer, who died in 1990.

It’s the first event in a fall music festival called "Bernstein: The Best Of All Possible Worlds,” which runs through December 13.

“Growing up, I had seen the Young People's Concerts,” said Ma, pictured above. “I auditioned a number of times. Didn't get chosen any of the three times I auditioned.”

This concert commemorated the 90th anniversary of Bernstein's birth and the 50th anniversary of his appointment as music director of the New York Philharmonic. Ma, Hampson, the San Francisco Symphony, Christine Ebersole and others performed selections from Bernstein's classical repertoire and his Broadway hits, including “West Side Story.”

Baritone Thomas Hampson said his Carnegie debut corresponded with "Lenny's" last concert.

“The man was so amazingly brilliant in such an intellectual, intelligent way and yet so instinctively musical,” said Hampson. “Which for a young person like me was sort of like, 'Yeah, do your homework, get it together, know everything you can possibly know. But when you make music, make music, son.’”

Artistic director Clive Gillenson played under Bernstein as a cellist in the 1970s.

“I think in many ways he was the most talented musician I have ever come across,” said Gillenson. “Conductor, composer, extraordinary in education and also fascinated by everything in life.”

Besides celebrating Bernstein, Carnegie Hall will let music legend Jessye Norman curate a festival of African-American music this Spring.

“When I went to see her and eventually broached the subject she just said, 'Clive, this is something I've been waiting to do my whole life,'” said Gillenson.

The opening night concert will be shown on Great Performances on Wednesday, October 29 on Channel 13. For more information, visit www.BernsteinFestival.org.

All photos of Bernstein in this piece appear courtesy of Steve J. Sherman.