Say hello to American music. Two iconic American composers provide the music for this festive concert that ushers in a new calendar year. The music of George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein has come to symbolize the "American-ness" of American music as has that of few others. Gershwin was the man who sought "to make a lady out of jazz." Three of his best-known scores are on the program, including the jazzy Rhapsody in Blue. As for Bernstein, that irrepressible dynamo of artistic energy, he accomplished more in his 72 years than most people could hope to achieve in several lifetimes. Bernstein was Mr. Classical Music himself. On the Town was his first musical comedy (1944), providing the perfect format to portray a whirlwind tour through New York City for three sailors on 24-hour shore leave. The show became even more popular through the medium of lm, which starred Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra singing their way through "New York, New York, it's a wonderful town." From the other end of Bernstein's career we hear the Divertimento for Orchestra (1980), a celebratory piece written for the 100th anniversary of the Boston Symphony. Celebrations are in order as we say goodbye to 2018 and welcome 2019.