Composer Elmer Bernstein thrilled the Dallas Symphony Orchestra audience with a surprise appearance as conductor for a suite from his score to The Magnificent Seven.

“The audience was clearly wowed, however, when Mr. Bernstein himself—regarded by insiders as the greatest film composer of the second half of the century just past—hustled onstage to conduct a rousing suite from this score to “The Magnificent Seven.” –The Dallas Morning News, January 8, 2001

The audience exploded into a spontaneous standing ovation at the conclusion of the suite.

The Dallas appearance was the first of many such appearances and honors scheduled for 2001, marking his Fiftieth Anniversary of composing music for feature films, a first in the motion picture industry.