伯恩斯坦被指派為紐約愛樂交響樂團的助理指揮只有幾個月。年僅25歲的他並沒有什麼經驗，開場前的最後一分鐘，伯恩斯坦才被告知他將代替華爾特上場指揮，所以他沒有任何時間排練。而那場由他負責指揮的音樂是一首相當的困難樂曲，此外，這場音樂會將會透過電台向全國轉播。儘管背負了很大的壓力，伯恩斯坦仍全力以赴並於終場時，贏得全場起立喝采。這件事立刻上了全國頭條，伯恩斯坦因而一夜成名。

有些人認為他們即使面對壓力也能做到最好；您曾在未經準備的情況下，被他人要求去執行某項任務嗎？您的表現如何呢？是什麼原因讓倫納德伯恩斯坦即使面對如此艱困的情況，卻仍能表現出色？


Bernstein had been appointed Assistant Conductor for the New York Philharmonic only a few months before that night. Just 25 years old, he was relatively inexperienced. At the last minute, Bernstein was told he was to take Walter's place, so he did not have any time to rehearse. The music he was going to conduct was very difficult. Plus, the concert was going to be broadcast nationally on the radio. Despite all these pressures, Bernstein rose to the occasion and received a standing ovation at the end of the concert. The event made national headlines, and Bernstein became famous overnight.

Some people feel they do their best under the most stressful of circumstances. Have you ever been asked to do something you weren't prepared to do? How well were you able to perform? What was it about Leonard Bernstein that made him do so well in such a difficult situation?

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