From world premieres with Leonard Bernstein to a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration with Frank Sinatra at Madison Square Garden, Splendid Encounters offers a glimpse into two of the century's most exciting decades of classical music. Renowned choral conductor Abraham Kaplan provides a fascinating look at his association with more than forty talented musicians who touched his life with their genius and accomplishments. In some instances, Kaplan crossed paths with these musicians momentarily, and in other cases, he had the privilege of working intimately with some of the world's great maestros. In all, Kaplan collaborated with twenty-eight world-renowned conductors, nine internationally famous composers, and other celebrated personalities-from William Schuman to Igor Stravinsky and Vincent Persichetti-whose vignettes are delivered in this compilation. Splendid Encounters, stories of great musicians told by a great musician and storyteller, is both infectious and inspirational, and demonstrates that these legendary musicians are indeed real human beings. This music biography revives the living, breathing experiences of a generation of musical legends who should not be forgotten.