
The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein
Synopsis
This television essay from 1985 was written by Leonard Bernstein to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Gustav Mahler's birth. Recorded in Israel, Vienna and later in London, it is punctuated by biographical interludes and illustrated by musical examples drawn from the cycle of Mahler's works recorded by Bernstein. Bernstein talks, plays and conducts various orchestras (Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker) and soloists (Janet Baker, Christa Ludwig, Edith Mathis, Lucia Popp, Walton Groenroos) in performances spanning 17 years. Leonard Bernstein also examines the roots of Gustav Mahler's inspiration. The programme also features music from the nine symphonies, 'The Song of the Earth' and the 'Wunderhorn Cycle'.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
November 1, 1985
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Humphrey Burton, Peter Butler
- Original Title
- The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- Deutsche Grammophon
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Humphrey Burton, Peter Butler
Department Leadership Roster
Humphrey Burton
Director
Peter Butler
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein.
500 best 85's movies
Similar Titles to The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
More Like The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.












Frequently Asked Questions About The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein about?
This television essay from 1985 was written by Leonard Bernstein to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Gustav Mahler's birth. Recorded in Israel, Vienna and later in London, it is punctuated by biographical interludes and illustrated by musical examples drawn from the cycle of Mahler's works recorded by Bernstein. Bernstein talks, plays and conducts various orchestras (Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker) and soloists (Janet Baker, Christa Ludwig, Edith Mathis, Lucia Popp, Walton Groenroos) in performances spanning 17 years. Leonard Bernstein also examines the roots of Gustav Mahler's inspiration. The programme also features music from the nine symphonies, 'The Song of the Earth' and the 'Wunderhorn Cycle'.
Who directed The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein?
The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein was directed by Humphrey Burton, Peter Butler.
Who stars in The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein?
The principal cast of The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein includes Leonard Bernstein, Janet Baker, Christa Ludwig, Edith Mathis, Lucia Popp.
When was The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein released and how long is it?
The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein was released in 1985 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein?
The Little Drummer Boy: An Essay on Mahler by Leonard Bernstein holds official age classifications: US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).



















