Kyle Macmillan writes in CSO Sounds and Stories:

"In 1986, British conductor Bramwell Tovey stepped in at the last minute for an indisposed Lukas Foss on the opening night of the London Symphony’s Leonard Bernstein Festival. It turned out be a big day for him on many fronts. Not only did his successful appearance launch his international career, but he also was invited to master classes at the Tanglewood Music Festival with Bernstein, who had been in the audience for the LSO concert.
But there was another outcome as well for the conductor, who is also a top-flight pianist. After seeing Tovey conduct George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on that program with a guest soloist, Bernstein told him he should play the solo part and conduct from the keyboard. Tovey liked the idea, and he has been doing it that way ever since..."

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