Authorized biography of leonard bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
American conductor and composer (1918–1990)
Leonard Bernstein (BURN-styne;[1] born Louis Bernstein; August 25, 1918 – Oct 14, 1990) was an Land conductor, composer, pianist, music pedagog, author, and humanitarian. Considered hurtle be one of the about important conductors of his put on the back burner, he was the first American-born conductor to receive international approval.
Bernstein was "one of birth most prodigiously talented and thriving affluent musicians in American history" according to music critic Donal Henahan.[2]Bernstein's honors and accolades include figure Emmy Awards,[3] two Tony Awards,[4] and 16 Grammy Awards (including the Lifetime Achievement Award)[5] in the same way well as an Academy Honour nomination.
He received the Airdrome Center Honor in 1981.[6]
As well-organized composer, Bernstein wrote in numerous genres, including symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and stage play music, choral works, opera, decisive music, and pieces for excellence piano. Bernstein's works include significance Broadway musical West Side Story, which continues to be traditionally performed worldwide, and has antiquated adapted into two (1961 courier 2021) feature films, as ablebodied as three symphonies, Serenade fend for Plato's "Symposium" (1954), and Chichester Psalms (1965), the original feature for the Elia Kazan theatrical piece film On the Waterfront (1954), and theater works including On the Town (1944), Wonderful Town (1953), Candide (1956), and ruler Mass (1971).
Bernstein was glory first American-born conductor to remove a major American symphony orchestra.[7] He was music director accustomed the New York Philharmonic skull conducted the world's major orchestras, generating a legacy of sound and video recordings.[8] Bernstein was also a critical figure replace the modern revival of grandeur music of Gustav Mahler, false whose music he was nigh interested.[9] A skilled pianist, Composer often conducted piano concertos spread the keyboard.
He shared beam explored classical music on convergence with a mass audience increase by two national and international broadcasts, plus Young People's Concerts with rendering New York Philharmonic.[11]
Bernstein worked tackle support of civil rights,[12] protested against the Vietnam War,[13] advocated nuclear disarmament, raised money cheerfulness HIV/AIDS research and awareness, current engaged in multiple international initiatives for human rights and false peace.
He conducted Mahler's Resurrection Symphony to mark the surround of president John F. Kennedy,[14] and in Israel at clean up concert, Hatikvah on Mt. Scopus, after the Six-Day War.[15] Blue blood the gentry sequence of events was reliable for a documentary entitled Journey to Jerusalem.[16] At the during of his life, Bernstein conducted a performance of Beethoven's Work of art No.
9 in Berlin discriminate against celebrate the fall of probity Berlin Wall.
Early life famous education
1918–1935: Early life and family
Bernstein was born in Lawrence, Colony, to Russian Jewish/Ukrainian Jewish parents, Jennie (née Resnick)[17] and Prophet Joseph Bernstein, both of whom immigrated to the United States[7] from Rivne, Russian Empire (now in Ukraine).[18][19] His grandmother insisted that his first name hair Louis, but his parents invariably called him Leonard.
Bernstein legitimately changed his name from Gladiator to Leonard when he was 16. To his friends reprove many others, Bernstein was unaffectedly known as "Lenny".[21]
Bernstein's mother abstruse moved to stay with dip parents in Lawrence toward influence end of her first gravidity and, since he was indisposed as an infant, he stayed there until he was tart enough to join his churchman in Boston, where he in the end attended the Boston Latin Institution.
When he was 15, glory family moved to nearby Physicist, Massachusetts.[22]
Bernstein's father was the possessor of the Samuel J. Composer Hair Company. It held rectitude exclusive distribution rights for glory Frederick's Permanent Wave Machine fulfil the 1920s and 1930s, which made Samuel wealthy.[23]
In Bernstein's completely youth, his only exposure chastise music was the household portable radio and music on Friday each night at Congregation Mishkan Tefila pull Roxbury, Massachusetts.[24] When Bernstein was ten years old, Samuel's sis Clara deposited her upright softness at her brother's house.
Composer asked for lessons, and accordingly had a variety of pianissimo teachers in his youth, as well as Helen Coates, who later became his secretary. In the summers, the Bernstein family would lay off to their vacation home take Sharon, Massachusetts, where young Author conscripted all the neighborhood posterity to put on shows ustment from Bizet's Carmen to Doctor and Sullivan's H.M.S.
Pinafore. Stylishness would often play entire operas or Beethoven symphonies with king younger sister, Shirley.[27] Leonard's youngest sibling, Burton, was born squash up 1932, 13 years after Leonard.[28] Despite the large age differences, the three siblings remained seat their entire lives.[29]
Sam was in the early stages opposed to young Leonard's concern in music and attempted bump into discourage his son's interest stomach-turning refusing to pay for climax piano lessons.
Leonard then took to giving lessons to callow people in his neighborhood.[30] Tiptoe of his students, Sid Ramin, became Bernstein's orchestrator for Westside Side Story[31] and a lifetime beloved friend.[32]
Sam took his mutually to orchestral concerts in authority teenage years and eventually trim his music education.
In May well 1932, Leonard attended his leading orchestral concert with the Beantown Pops Orchestra conducted by President Fiedler. Bernstein recalled, "To would like, in those days, the Pops was heaven itself ... Unrestrained thought ... it was glory supreme achievement of the body race."[34] It was at that concert that Bernstein first heard Ravel's Boléro, which made graceful tremendous impression on him.
Another sour musical influence was George Lyricist.
Bernstein was working as efficient music counselor at a summertime camp when news came recall Gershwin's death. Bernstein interrupted feast in the mess hall, ride then played Gershwin's second Prelude as a memorial.[36]
On March 30, 1932, Bernstein played Brahms's Rhapsody in G minor at crown first public piano performance squash up Susan Williams's studio recital excite the New England Conservatory.
Couple years later, he made ruler solo debut with orchestra girder Grieg's Piano Concerto in A- minor with the Boston Button School Orchestra.
Bernstein's first two schooling environments were both public schools: the William Lloyd Garrison School,[38] followed by the prestigious Beantown Latin School, for which Composer and classmate Lawrence F.
Subside wrote the Class Song.
1935–1941: Academy years
Harvard University
In 1935, Bernstein enrolled at Harvard Faculty, where he studied music glossed, among others, Edward Burlingame Construction and Walter Piston. Bernstein's chief extant composition, Psalm 148, outset for voice and piano, admiration dated 1935.
He majored make real music with a final origin thesis titled "The Absorption be in possession of Race Elements into American Music" (1939; reproduced in his volume Findings). One of Bernstein's thought-provoking influences at Harvard was goodness aesthetics Professor David Prall, whose multidisciplinary outlook on the bailiwick inspired Bernstein for the benefit of his life.
One be in opposition to Bernstein's friends at Harvard was future philosopher Donald Davidson, thug whom Bernstein played piano duets. Bernstein wrote and conducted justness musical score for the manual labor Davidson mounted of Aristophanes' gambol The Birds, performed in righteousness original Greek. Bernstein recycled wearisome of this music in vanguard works.
While a student, Composer was briefly an accompanist transport the Harvard Glee Club trade in well as an unpaid player for Harvard Film Society's understood film presentations.[40]
Bernstein mounted a follower production of The Cradle Volition declaration Rock, directing its action exaggerate the piano as the author Marc Blitzstein had done dead even the infamous premiere.
Blitzstein, who attended the performance, subsequently became a close friend and exponent to Bernstein. As a intermediate at Harvard, Bernstein met ethics conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos. Mitropoulos's fascination and power as a songstress were major influences on Bernstein's eventual decision to become well-organized conductor.
Mitropoulos invited Bernstein come to come to Minneapolis for ethics 1940–41 season to be sovereignty assistant, but the plan skin through because of union issues.[43] In 1937, Bernstein sat vocation to Aaron Copland at well-ordered dance recital at Town Pass in New York City. Composer invited Bernstein to his gladden party afterwards, where Bernstein stiff the guests by playing Copland's challenging Piano Variations, a groove Bernstein loved.
Although he was never a formal student cut into Copland's, Bernstein regularly sought rulership advice, often citing him reorganization his "only real composition teacher".[44] Bernstein graduated from Harvard adjoin 1939 with a Bachelor eradicate Arts, cum laude.
Phytologist Institute of Music
After graduating from Harvard, Bernstein enrolled shock defeat the Curtis Institute of Symphony in Philadelphia.
At Curtis, Director studied conducting with Fritz Reiner (who is said to control given Bernstein the only "A" grade he ever awarded); pianissimo with Isabelle Vengerova; orchestration be introduced to Randall Thompson; counterpoint with Richard Stöhr; and score reading tighten Renée Longy Miquelle.[45] In 1940, Bernstein attended the inaugural day of the Tanglewood Music Affections (then called the Berkshire Refrain Center) at the Boston Sonata Orchestra's summer home.[46] Bernstein niminy-piminy conducting with the BSO's meeting director, Serge Koussevitzky, who became a profound lifelong inspiration achieve Bernstein.[47] He became Koussevitzky's aiming assistant at Tanglewood[48] and succeeding dedicated his Symphony No.
2: The Age of Anxiety test his beloved mentor.[49] One mention Bernstein's classmates, both at Botanist and at Tanglewood, was Lukas Foss, who remained a alltime friend and colleague. Bernstein correlative to Tanglewood nearly every summertime for the rest of potentate life to teach and manners the young music students. Composer received a diploma in route from Curtis in 1941.
Career
1940s: Rise to prominence
Soon after noteworthy left Curtis, Bernstein moved foul New York City where oversight lived in various apartments interior Manhattan. Bernstein supported himself through coaching singers, teaching piano,[50] impressive playing the piano for discharge classes in Carnegie Hall.
Misstep found work with Harms-Witmark, transcribing jazz and pop music last publishing his work under character pseudonym "Lenny Amber". (Bernstein way "amber" in German.)
Bernstein briefly common an apartment in Greenwich Neighbourhood with his friend Adolph Developing. Green was then part detail a satirical music troupe baptized The Revuers, featuring Betty Comden and Judy Holliday.
With Composer sometimes providing piano accompaniment, Rank Revuers often performed at illustriousness legendary jazz club the Vanguard.[52][53] On April 21, 1942, Bernstein performed the premiere give a rough idea his first published work, Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, handle clarinetist David Glazer at description Institute of Modern Art prank Boston.
New York Philharmonic guidance debut
Bernstein would later make coronet New York Philharmonic conducting launching. On November 14, 1943, receipt recently been appointed assistant controller to Artur Rodziński of rendering New York Philharmonic, Bernstein straightforward his major conducting debut mad short notice—and without any rehearsal—after guest conductor Bruno Walter came down with the flu.[54] Primacy challenging program included works get by without Robert Schumann, Miklós Rózsa, Richard Wagner, and Richard Strauss.[54][55]
The loan day, The New York Times carried the story on university teacher front page and remarked entertain an editorial, "It's a positive American success story.
The amiable, friendly triumph of it full Carnegie Hall and spread a good over the air waves."[56] Patronize newspapers throughout the country intimidate the story, which, in faction with the concert's live public CBS Radio Network broadcast, propelled Bernstein to instant fame.[57] Make up the next two years, Director made conducting debuts with fair different orchestras in the Pooled States and Canada, greatly distension his repertoire and initiating adroit lifelong frequent practice of directorship concertos from the piano.
On Jan 28, 1944, Bernstein conducted blue blood the gentry premiere of his Symphony Maladroit thumbs down d.
1: Jeremiah with the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra and soloist Jennie Tourel.[59] In the fall virtuous 1943, Bernstein and Jerome Choreographer began work on their primary collaboration, Fancy Free, a choreography about three young sailors storm out leave in wartime New Dynasty City.
Fancy Free premiered honour April 18, 1944, with probity Ballet Theatre (now the English Ballet Theatre) at the polar Metropolitan Opera House, with view by Oliver Smith and costumes by Kermit Love.[60]
Bernstein and Choreographer decided to expand the choreography into a musical and entitled Comden and Green to create the book and lyrics.
On the Town opened on Broadway's Adelphi Theatre on December 28, 1944. The show resonated vacate audiences during World War II, and it broke race barriers on Broadway: Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato in a leading role; a multiracial cast dancing variety mixed race couples; and adroit Black concertmaster, Everett Lee, who eventually took over as melody director of the show.[61]On position Town became an MGM shift picture in 1949, starring Sequence Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin as the three sailors.
Only part of Bernstein's grade was used in the ep and additional songs were wanting by Roger Edens.[62]
From 1945 pause 1947, Bernstein was the congregation director of the New Dynasty City Symphony, which had antique founded the previous year because of the conductor Leopold Stokowski. Goodness orchestra (with support from Politician Fiorello La Guardia) had original programs and affordable tickets.[63] Lessening 1946, Bernstein made his foreign debut with the Czech Symphony at the inaugural Prague Spokesperson International Music Festival.[64] He very recorded Ravel's Piano Concerto stress G major as soloist instruction conductor with the Philharmonia Orchestra.[65] On July 4, 1946, Composer conducted the European premiere lay out Fancy Free with the Choreography Theatre at the Royal Work House in London.[66] On Revered 6 he conducted opera professionally for the first time, comprehend the American premiere of Benzoin Britten's Peter Grimes at Tanglewood, commissioned by Koussevitzky.[67] That selfsame year, Arturo Toscanini invited Composer to guest conduct two concerts with the NBC Symphony Combination, one of which featured Composer as soloist in Ravel's Pianoforte Concerto in G major.[68][page needed]
Israel Symphony Orchestra, television debut and Tanglewood
In 1947, Bernstein conducted in Association Aviv for the first constantly, beginning a lifelong association partner the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, exploitation known as the Palestine Work Orchestra.
The next year, explicit conducted an open-air concert keep Israeli troops at Beersheba change for the better the middle of the worth during the Arab-Israeli war.[69] Accent 1957, he conducted the initiatory concert of the Mann Entry-way in Tel Aviv.[64] In 1967, he conducted a concert source Mount Scopus to commemorate dignity Reunification of Jerusalem, featuring Mahler's Symphony No.
2 and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with soloist Patriarch Stern.[70] The city of Association Aviv added his name letter the Habima Square (Orchestra Plaza) in the center of say publicly city.[71] On December 10, 1949, Bernstein made his first induce appearance as conductor with distinction Boston Symphony Orchestra at Industrialist Hall.
The concert, which deception an address by Eleanor Diplomatist, celebrated the first anniversary staff the United Nations General Assembly's ratification of the Universal Deposition of Human Rights, and deception the premiere of Aaron Copland's Preamble for a Solemn Occasion with Sir Laurence Olivier narrating text from the UN Rental. The concert was televised disrespect NBC Television Network.[72] In Apr 1949, Bernstein performed as pianissimo soloist in the world first performance of his Symphony No.
2: The Age of Anxiety form Koussevitzy conducting the Boston Sonata Orchestra. On December 2, 1949, Bernstein conducted the world opening of the Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie, constitute the Boston Symphony Orchestra stomach the New York premiere resolve Carnegie Hall on the cocktail hour of December 10.[73] Part swallow the rehearsal for the make an effort was recorded and released overtake the orchestra.
When Koussevitzky epileptic fit in 1951, Bernstein became belief of the orchestra and management departments at Tanglewood.
1950s: Growth expansion and West Side Story
The 1950s comprised the most efficient years of Bernstein's career. Good taste created five new works acknowledge the Broadway stage, composed not too symphonic works and an iconic film score, and was appointive music director of the Creative York Philharmonic with whom agreed toured the world, including concerts behind the Iron Curtain.
Director also harnessed the power demonstration television to expand his instructive reach, and he married put up with started a family. In 1950, Bernstein composed incidental music have a thing about a Broadway production of Detail. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan.[74] The production, which opened lane Broadway on April 24, 1950, starred Jean Arthur as Shaft Pan and Boris Karloff thorough the dual roles of Martyr Darling and Captain Hook.
Class show ran for 321 performances.[75]
In 1951, Bernstein composed Trouble pledge Tahiti, a one-act opera delete seven scenes with an Truthfully libretto by the composer. Authority opera portrays the troubled association of a couple whose georgic suburban post-war environment belies their inner turmoil.[76] Ironically, Bernstein wrote most of the opera determine on his honeymoon in Mexico with his wife, Felicia Montealegre.
Bernstein was a visiting sonata professor at Brandeis University strip 1951 to 1956. In 1952, he created the Brandeis Holiday of the Creative Arts, whither he conducted the premiere govern Trouble in Tahiti on June 12 of that year.[77] Excellence NBC Opera Theatre subsequently debonair the opera on television remove November 1952.
It opened out of order Broadway at the Playhouse Music- hall on April 19, 1955, significant ran for six weeks.[78] Iii decades later, Bernstein wrote skilful second opera, A Quiet Place, which picked up the unique and characters of Trouble overfull Tahiti in a later interval.
Wonderful Town (1953)
Main article: Wonderful Town
In 1953, Bernstein wrote the score for the melodious Wonderful Town on very diminutive notice, with a book unreceptive Joseph A.
Fields and Hieronymus Chodorov and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. 1 the 1940 play, directed prejudice Broadway by George S. Playwright, it is based on rank autobiographical short stories, collectively blue-blooded My Sister Eileen, that were written by Ruth McKenney give orders to published in the early Decennary by The New Yorker.
They tell the story of join sisters from Ohio who incorporate to New York City coupled with seek success from their filthy basement apartment in Greenwich Provincial. Wonderful Town opened on Spot on February 25, 1953, suffer the Winter Garden Theatre, prima ballerina Rosalind Russell in the comport yourself of Ruth Sherwood, Edie President as Eileen Sherwood, and Martyr Gaynes as Robert Baker.
Imitate won five Tony Awards, as well as Best Musical and Best Actress.[79]
Candide (1956)
Main article: Candide (operetta)
In the three years leading uncomplicated to Bernstein's appointment as masterpiece director of the New Royalty Philharmonic, Bernstein was simultaneously lay down on the scores for join Broadway shows.
The first star as the two was the operetta-style musical Candide.Lillian Hellman originally lay Bernstein her idea of adapting Voltaire's novella. The original collaborators on the show were manual writer John Latouche and poet Richard Wilbur. Candide opened set-up Broadway on December 1, 1956, at the Martin Beck Stage play, in a production directed overstep Tyrone Guthrie.
Anxious about say publicly parallels Hellman had deliberately tatty between Voltaire's story and rank ongoing hearings conducted by decency House Un-American Activities Committee, Troubadour persuaded the collaborators to scheme their most incendiary sections previous to opening night. While nobleness production was a box supremacy disaster, running for only duo months for a total observe 73 performances,[82] the cast recording became a cult classic, which kept Bernstein's score alive.
On every side have been several revivals, do business modifications to improve the restricted area. The elements of the sound that have remained best progress and performed over the decades are the Overture, which update became one of the heavy-handed frequently performed orchestral compositions afford a 20th centuryAmerican composer; illustriousness coloratura aria "Glitter and Live Gay", which Barbara Cook chant in the original production; tolerate the grand finale "Make At the last Garden Grow".
West Side Story (1957)
Main article: West Side Story
The other musical Bernstein was handwriting simultaneously with Candide was West Side Story. Bernstein collaborated write down director and choreographer Jerome Choreographer, book writer Arthur Laurents, enthralled lyricist Stephen Sondheim.[83] The nonconformist is an updated retelling panic about Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, oversensitive in the mid-1950s in goodness slums of New York City's Upper West Side.
The Man character, Tony, is affiliated sign out the Jets gang, who designing of white Northern European rush. The Juliet character is Tree, who is connected to magnanimity Sharks gang, recently arrived spread Puerto Rico.[84] The original Thespianism production opened at the Iciness Garden Theatre on September 26, 1957, and ran 732 goings-on.
Robbins won the Tony Grant for Best Choreographer, and Jazzman Smith won the Tony round out Best Scenic Designer.[85]
Bernstein's score take over West Side Story blends "jazz, Latin rhythms, symphonic sweep subject musical-comedy conventions in groundbreaking conduct for Broadway".[86] It was orchestrated by Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal following detailed instructions outlander Bernstein.
The dark theme, seasoned music, extended dance scenes, illustrious focus on social problems considerable a turning point in harmonious theatre. In 1960, Bernstein fit a suite of orchestral medicine from the show, titled Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, which continues to be general with orchestras worldwide.[87] A 1961 United Artists film adaptation, booked by Robert Wise and Choreographer, starred Natalie Wood as Part and Richard Beymer as Suave.
The film won ten Establishment Awards, including Best Picture avoid a ground-breaking Best Supporting Contestant award for Puerto Rican-born Rita Moreno playing the role run through Anita.[88] A film adaptation constrained by Steven Spielberg opened jacket 2021.[89]
In addition to Bernstein's compositional activity for the stage, crystal-clear wrote a symphonic work, Serenade after Plato's "Symposium" (1954); glory score On the Waterfront (1954); and Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, composed in 1949, but sui generis incomparabl premiered in 1955, for falderal big band and solo clarinet.
In 1953, Bernstein became character first American conductor to come out in the open at La Scala in City, conducting Cherubini's Medea, with Tree Callas in the title impersonation. Callas and Bernstein reunited change La Scala to perform Bellini's La sonnambula in 1955. Initiate November 14, 1954, Bernstein be on fire the first of his impel lectures for the CBS Haste Network arts program Omnibus.
Rank live lecture, entitled "Beethoven's Onefifth Symphony", involved Bernstein explaining depiction symphony's first movement with decency aid of musicians from loftiness "Symphony of the Air" (formerly NBC Symphony Orchestra). The announcement featured manuscripts from Beethoven's paltry hand, as well as clever giant painting of the cheeriness page of the score function the studio floor.
Six repair Omnibus lectures followed from 1955 to 1961 (later on ABC and then NBC) covering top-hole broad range of topics: frill, conducting, American musical comedy, additional music, J. S. Bach, unacceptable grand opera.
Music administrator of the New York Symphony
Bernstein was appointed the punishment director of the New Royalty Philharmonic in 1957, sharing ethics post jointly with Dimitri Mitropoulos until he took sole add in 1958.
Bernstein held depiction music directorship until 1969 conj at the time that he was appointed "Laureate Conductor". He continued to conduct paramount make recordings with the corps for the rest of empress life.[91] Bernstein's television teaching took a quantum leap when, renovation the new music director symbolize the New York Philharmonic, bankruptcy put the orchestra's traditional Sat afternoon Young People's Concerts touch the CBS Television Network.
Pots of viewers of all immortality and around the world heartily embraced Bernstein and his compelling presentations about classical music. Composer often presented talented young evict on the broadcasts. Many comprehensive them became celebrated in their own right, including conductors Claudio Abbado and Seiji Ozawa; player Paula Robison; and pianist André Watts.
From 1958 until 1972, the 53 Young People's Concerts comprised the most influential keep in shape of music education programs astute produced on television.[92] They were highly acclaimed by critics most important won numerous Emmy Awards.[93]
Some supporting Bernstein's scripts, all of which he wrote himself, were loose in book form and untrue records.[94] A recording of Humor in Music was awarded spruce up Grammy award for Best Infotainment or Spoken Word Recording (other than comedy) in 1961.[95] Dignity programs were shown in haunt countries around the world, usually with Bernstein dubbed into attention languages, and the concerts were later released on home picture by Kultur Video.
In 1958, Bernstein and Mitropoulos led dignity New York Philharmonic on cast down first tour south of probity border, through 12 countries divulge Central and South America. Distinction United States Department of Re-establish sponsored the tour to swelling the nation's relations with dismay southern neighbors.[43] In 1959, ethics Department of State also fairyed godmother Bernstein and the Philharmonic scene a 50-concert tour through Assemblage and the Soviet Union, portions of which were filmed stomach-turning the CBS Television Network.
Well-ordered highlight of the tour was Bernstein's performance of Shostakovich's One-fifth Symphony, in the presence magnetize the composer, who came stem stage at the end stick to congratulate Bernstein and the musicians.
1960s: Innovations and Lincoln Center
New York Philharmonic Innovations
Bernstein's innovative approach to themed encoding included introducing audiences to composers less-performed at the time much as Gustav Mahler, Carl Nielsen, Jean Sibelius, and Charles Building (including the world premiere designate his Symphony No.
2). Composer actively advocated for the certificate and performance of works unused contemporary composers, conducting over 40 world premieres by a many roster of composers ranging circumvent John Cage to Alberto Ginastera to Luciano Berio.[96] He further conducted US premieres of 19 major works from around representation globe, including works by Dmitri Shostakovich, Pierre Boulez, and György Ligeti.[97]
Bernstein championed American composers, ultra those with whom he confidential a close friendship, such importation Aaron Copland, William Schuman, subject David Diamond.
This decade apophthegm a significant expansion of Conductor and the Philharmonic's collaboration block Columbia Records, together they floating over 400 compositions, covering put in order broad swath of the classic music canon. Bernstein welcomed representation Philharmonic's additions of its cap Black musician, Sanford Allen, queue its second woman musician, Orin O'Brien.
Bernstein also shared grandeur Philharmonic's commitment to connecting decree as many New Yorkers monkey possible. That vision became unmixed reality with the launch delightful the Concerts in the Parks in 1965, which Bernstein conducted often. Another milestone was glory Philharmonic's first visit to Embellish in 1961, when Bernstein overwhelm acclaimed Philharmonic concerts and retained in cultural exchange.
Over nobleness years, he led the Bunch on tours to 144 cities in 38 countries.
Bernstein initiated the Philharmonic's informal Thursday Sundown Preview Concerts, which included Bernstein's talks from the stage, neat as a pin practice that was unheard pounce on at the time.[98][99] In give someone a ring oft-reported incident, on April 6, 1962,[100] Bernstein appeared on chapter before a performance of glory Brahms Piano Concerto No.
1 in D minor to state 1 that the soloist, Glenn Paleontologist, had chosen an idiosyncratic advance to the work. Bernstein explained that while he did shriek totally agree with it, smartness thought Gould's interpretation was keep you going artistically worthy exploration.[101] Bernstein questioned: "In a concerto, who obey the boss: the soloist put to sleep the conductor?"[102] The incident composed a stir that reverberated personal the press for decades; esteem New York Philharmonic concert pay April 6, 1962 § Legacy.
In 1960, Bernstein and the Additional York Philharmonic marked the period of Gustav Mahler's birth link up with a series of performances. Nobleness composer's widow, Alma, attended dire of Bernstein's rehearsals. That be the same as year, Bernstein made his regulate commercial recording of a Conductor symphony (the Fourth).
Over rectitude next seven years, he real the entire Mahler symphony circle with the New York Symphony (except for the 8th Piece of music, which was recorded with rectitude London Symphony Orchestra). The faction of concert performances, television discuss, and recordings led to orderly renewed interest in Mahler, largely in the United States.[103] Conductor claimed that he identified let fall the works on a wildcat level, and once wrote long-awaited the composer: "I'm so compassionate to Mahler: I understand emperor problem.
It's like being match up different men locked up bond the same body; one person is a conductor and birth other a composer ... It's like being a double man."[104][105]
Opening Lincoln Center
On May well 14, 1959, President Dwight Run. Eisenhower broke ground for Attorney Center for the Performing Humanities.
On September 23, 1962, goodness New York Philharmonic moved put on the back burner Carnegie Hall to its newborn home, Philharmonic Hall (now Painter Geffen Hall). Bernstein conducted leadership gala opening concert featuring expression by Mahler, Beethoven, and Singer Williams, as well as rectitude premiere of Aaron Copland's Connotations.
In 1964, Bernstein conducted smack of the Metropolitan Opera for goodness first time in Franco Zeffirelli's production of Verdi's Falstaff. Interpolate subsequent years, Bernstein returned give The Met to conduct Cavalleria rusticana (1970) and Carmen (1972), as well as at rank Centennial Gala in 1983.[106]
Fact list Artist's Response to Violence
In 1961, Bernstein composed and conducted a fanfare for President Lavatory F.
Kennedy's pre-inaugural gala.
On November 23, 1963, the give to after the assassination of Guide John F. Kennedy, Bernstein conducted the New York Philharmonic jaunt the Schola Cantorum of Novel York in a nationally televised memorial featuring the Mahler's Opus No. 2: "Resurrection". Later depart week, in a speech reverse the United Jewish Appeal, Composer said: "This will be tart reply to violence: to consider music more intensely, more excellently, more devotedly than ever before."[107] After Senator Robert F.
Jfk was assassinated in 1968, Director conducted the "Adagietto" movement running off Mahler's Symphony No. 5 turn-up for the books the funeral mass.[108]
Kaddish and Chichester Psalms
Due to his commitment side the New York Philharmonic person in charge his many other activities, Composer had little time for make-up during the 1960s, composing binding two major works.
His Work No. 3: Kaddish was deadly in 1963; Bernstein dedicated significance work: "To the Beloved Reminiscence of John F. Kennedy." Probity work features a large body, a full choir, a boys' choir, a soprano soloist, captain a narrator. "Kaddish" refers hyperbole the Jewish prayer recited expend the dead.
Bernstein wrote greatness text of the narration himself; his wife, Felicia Montealegre, narrated the US premiere of primacy work.[109]
In 1965, Bernstein took exceptional sabbatical year from the Unusual York Philharmonic to concentrate investigation composition, during which he sane Chichester Psalms. Commissioned by character Dean of Chichester Cathedral, Conductor Hussey, the work premiered smash into Philharmonic Hall in New Royalty City on July 15, 1965, conducted by Bernstein himself, boss subsequently at Chichester Cathedral, conducted by John Birch.
For coronet text, Bernstein chose excerpts exaggerate the Book of Psalms slur the original Hebrew.[110] In 2018, Bernstein's Centennial year, Chichester Psalms was cited as the 5th-most performed concert work worldwide.[111]
Vienna Philharmonic debut
In 1966, Director began a lifelong rich affiliation with the Vienna Philharmonic, manipulation concerts as well as foundation his debut at the Vienna State Opera in Luchino Visconti's production of Falstaff with Vocalist Fischer-Dieskau in the title impersonation.
Bernstein was largely responsible ejection restoring the works of Director to the Vienna Philharmonic's set against repertoire. Bernstein recorded Mahler's Symphonies numerous times with the orchestra.[112] Bernstein returned to the Asseverate Opera in 1968 for unembellished production of Der Rosenkavalier flourishing in 1970 for Otto Schenk's production of Beethoven's Fidelio.
1970s: Mass, Dybbuk and international acclaim
During the 1970s, Bernstein's company, Amberson, in partnership with Unitel, drop and coordinated filmed recordings precision his symphonic concerts around primacy world. For the rest bazaar his life, Bernstein preferred set a limit derive his audio recordings unearth live performances.
Nearly 80% grip Bernstein's recordings with his virgin recording partner, Deutsche Grammophon, were recorded live.
Bernstein's major compositions generous the 1970s were his Mass: A Theatre Piece for Refrain, Players, and Dancers; his tally for the ballet Dybbuk; authority orchestral vocal work Songfest; ray his U.S. bicentennial musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, with lyrics saturate Alan Jay Lerner, which was his last Broadway show pointer only theatrical flop.
Mass: Straighten up Theatre Piece for Singers, Pitch, and Dancers (1971)
Main article: Mass (Bernstein)
In 1966, Jacqueline Jfk Onassis commissioned Bernstein to element of a work for the commencement of the John F. Jfk Center for the Performing School of dance in Washington, D.C., Bernstein began writing Mass in 1969 little a large-scale theatrical work home-made on the Tridentine Mass pass judgment on the Catholic Church, and prosperous 1971, Bernstein invited the sour composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who had recently opened birth musical Godspell off-Broadway, to work together as co-lyricist.
The world debut took place on September 8, 1971, conducted by Maurice Peress, directed by Gordon Davidson, settle down choreographed by Alvin Ailey.[114]
Bernstein's assess combines elements of musical performing arts, jazz, gospel, blues, folk, totter, and symphonic music, and magnanimity libretto combines Latin and Side liturgy, Hebrew prayer, and extra lyrics written by Bernstein alight Schwartz.[115]
Mass received both rapturous streak critical reactions, from audiences other music critics alike.
While fiercely members of the Catholic Religion praised the piece's expression go in for contemporary crises of faith, barrenness considered it blasphemous. (In 2000, Pope John Paul II inquire a performance of Mass be given the Vatican itself.)[116]President Richard President declined to attend the due to its anti-Vietnam Conflict message.[117][failed verification] Viewpoints on Mass continue to evolve over interval, and Edward Seckerson wrote riposte 2021, 50 years after cast down premiere: "Put simply, no subsequent work of Bernstein's encapsulates unerringly who he was as span man or as a musician; no other work displays potentate genius, his intellect, his melodic virtuosity and innate theatricality very like Mass."[118][failed verification]
The Nonreciprocal Question: Six Talks at Altruist
In the 1972–73 academic day, Bernstein was appointed to justness Charles Eliot Norton Chair introduce Professor of Poetry at University, where he delivered six lectures, The Unanswered Question, which explored such elements as tonality, inside, and form through the lorgnette of Noam Chomsky's linguistic theories.
Bernstein provided musical examples give birth to the piano, and pre-recorded melodious works with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. Amberson arranged for say publicly lectures to be videotaped disparage the WGBH studios in Beantown. The six lectures were make known on PBS in 1976, stomach subsequently released on home video[120] and published as a book.[121]
Leonard Bernstein by Allan Warren, 1973
Leonard Bernstein by Allan Warren, 1973
Dybbuk (1974)
Main article: Dybbuk (ballet)
Bernstein collaborated with Jerome Robbins to compose Dybbuk, a ballet based mislead S.
Ansky's play of rendering same name. The ballet depicts Ansky's tale of a prepubescent woman possessed by a pathetic spirit, known in Jewish institution as a "dybbuk". Dybbuk was premiered by the New Dynasty City Ballet at the Novel York State Theater on Possibly will 16, 1974, with Bernstein directorship. A revision of the terpsichore and the score was feeling later the same year, entitled Dybbuk Variations.
It received closefitting premiere in November 1974.[122]
Songfest: Fine Cycle of American Poems embody Six Singers and Orchestra
Bernstein's Songfest: A Cycle of American Rhyming for Six Singers and Orchestra premiered on October 11, 1977, the Kennedy Center in President, D.C., with the composer rule the National Symphony Orchestra.
Integrity work was intended as unblended tribute to the 1976 Land Bicentennial, but was not done in time. The work sets an array of texts strong 13 American poets spanning link centuries. Bernstein deliberately selected excellence widest possible array of learned voices to express the nation's essential diversity; the poets involve June Jordan, Julia de Burgos, Walt Whitman, and Langston Hughes.[123] On July 4, 1985, Director conducted a nationally televised suit of Songfest as part eliminate the National Symphony's annual A Capitol Fourth concert.[124]
International way and recordings
After becoming Chief Laureate of the New Royalty Philharmonic in 1969, Bernstein took advantage of his freed-up hold up to increase the pace misplace his world travel, conducting 29 orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, build up the Americas, and making be situated recordings with them for both Unitel and Deutsche Grammophon.[125] Director founded Amberson Productions in 1969.
In partnership with Unitel, Amberson created many video productions an assortment of concert performances, starting with Verdi's Requiem Mass in St. Paul's Cathedral with the London Work Orchestra in 1970, produced remarkable directed by Humphrey Burton. Ale would go on to contribute with Bernstein on his medicine video projects for the stay of Bernstein's life.[126]
In 1972, Composer recorded Bizet's Carmen, with Marilyn Horne in the title put it on and James McCracken as Deny access to Jose, after leading several episode performances of the opera mad the Metropolitan Opera.[127] The demo was one of the good cheer in stereo to use nobility original spoken dialogue between rendering sung portions of the composition.
The recording was Bernstein's have control over for Deutsche Grammophon and won a Grammy.[128] In working darn Unitel and Deutsche Grammophon, Conductor made a host of recording and audio recordings with specified orchestras as Royal Concertgebouw Body, Orchestre de Paris, Boston Piece of music Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della Rai, Israel Philharmonic Belt, and Orchestre National de Author.
In the late 1970s, Composer conducted a complete Beethoven sonata cycle with the Vienna Symphony, and cycles of Brahms distinguished Schumann were to follow eliminate the 1980s.[129]
Among the many out of the ordinary Amberson productions with Unitel were Bernstein conducting Mahler's Symphony Thumb.
2 "Resurrection" with the Writer Symphony Orchestra at Ely Communion in 1973 and Fidelio heroic act the Vienna State Opera fence in 1978.[130] In 1970, Bernstein wrote and narrated "Bernstein on Beethoven: A Celebration in Vienna," drawing in-depth exploration of Beethoven aver the composer's 200th birthday, filmed on location in and retain Vienna.[131] It features excerpts flaxen Bernstein's rehearsals and performance break into Fidelio at the Vienna Offer Opera, directed by Otto Schenk (which was later revived take up filmed in 1978); Bernstein completion the Piano Concerto No.
1 and conducting from the piano; and a performance of Orchestra No. 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic, featuring the young Plácido Domingo among the soloists. Rendering show, produced and directed wishy-washy Humphrey Burton, was broadcast children the world and won address list Emmy Award.[132]
Also recorded by Unitel, in October 1976, was Bernstein's concert in Munich with leadership Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra station pianist Claudio Arrau to advantage Amnesty International.[133] To honor her highness late wife and to block their joint support for soul in person bodily rights, Bernstein subsequently established magnanimity Felicia Montealegre Bernstein Fund ingratiate yourself Amnesty International USA to refill aid for human rights activists.[134] In 1979, Bernstein conducted prestige Berlin Philharmonic for the extreme and only time, in match up charity concerts for Amnesty Global featuring performances of Mahler's Ordinal Symphony, recorded live on Deutsche Grammophon.[135] The invitation for depiction concerts had come from illustriousness orchestra and not from closefitting principal conductor Herbert von Karajan.
There has been speculation travel why Karajan never invited Director to conduct his orchestra. Authority full reasons will probably under no circumstances be known—they were on expressive terms, but sometimes practiced neat as a pin little mutual one-upmanship.[136]
1980s: A Censor Place, and Tanglewood
During the Eighties, Bernstein pursued a packed outline, continuing to conduct, teach, fare, and produce several television documentaries.
Bernstein's most significant compositions cataclysm the decade were his oeuvre A Quiet Place; Divertimento form Orchestra; Ḥalil for flute keep from orchestra; Concerto for Orchestra "Jubilee Games"; and the song run Arias and Barcarolles. Bernstein common the Kennedy Center Honors jackpot in 1980, a Grammy Lifespan Achievement Award in 1985, France's Legion of Honour (Commander) conduct yourself 1985, and Japan's Praemium Imperiale in 1990, among others.[137]
In leadership 1980s, Bernstein cemented his helpful legacy by co-founding three penalisation academies: Los Angeles Philharmonic Faculty, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchestral College, and the Pacific Music Festival.[138] Bernstein continued his longtime delight with Tanglewood to the track of his life, including top-notch lavish televised gala in 1988 to celebrate his 70th celebration, as well as his concluding concert performance in August 1990.[139]
A Quiet Place (1983)
Main article: A Quiet Place (opera)
In 1983, Bernstein wrote a new oeuvre, A Quiet Place, with capital libretto by Stephen Wadsworth.
Primacy opera premiered at the City Grand Opera on June 17, 1983, conducted by John DeMain.[140] The opera was a supplement to Bernstein's 1951 opera Trouble in Tahiti, which preceded excellence new opera at the open. In 1984, Bernstein and Wadsworth reconfigured A Quiet Place make longer include Trouble in Tahiti give it some thought its middle.
This version was performed at La Scala enthralled the Kennedy Center, with Bathroom Mauceri conducting. In 1986, Director himself conducted and recorded righteousness work at the Vienna Say Opera.[141]
Conducting activities
During integrity 1980s, in addition to constant his productive relationship with rectitude New York, Israel, and Vienna Philharmonics, Bernstein was also straight regular guest conductor with very many other major orchestras around rendering world.[142] In Munich with influence Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Conductor recorded works including Wagner's Tristan und Isolde; Haydn's Creation; swallow Mozart's Requiem and Great Extensive in C minor.
In Brawl with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Bernstein recorded contortion by Debussy, as well translation Puccini's La bohème, featuring proposal all-American cast.[144] In Amsterdam disconnect Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernstein authentic Mahler's Symphonies No. 1, 4, and 9, among other works.
In May 1986, the London Opus Orchestra mounted a Bernstein Party at the Barbican Centre, featuring a concert in which Conductor conducted his own works.
Queen mother Elizabeth II attended the performance.[146] In December 1989, Bernstein conducted the London Symphony Orchestra urgency his operetta Candide and afterwards recorded the work at Priory Road Studios. The recording asterisked Jerry Hadley, June Anderson, Christa Ludwig, and Adolph Green superimpose the leading roles.[147] The endure concert from the Barbican Focal point in London was captured commitment video.[148]
Ode to "Freedom" (1989)
On December 25, 1989, Bernstein conducted Beethoven's Symphony No.
9 burden East Berlin's Konzerthaus as portion of a celebration of goodness fall of the Berlin Spin. He had conducted the employ work in West Berlin prestige previous day. The orchestra consisted of members representing the pair German States and the three occupying powers of post-war Songwriter. The Christmas Day concert was broadcast live to an held audience of 100 million mankind in more than twenty countries.[149] For the occasion, Bernstein reworded Friedrich Schiller's text of justness Ode to Joy, replacing grandeur word Freude (joy) with dignity word Freiheit (freedom).[149] Bernstein another, "I'm sure that Beethoven would have given us his blessing."[150][151]
Final concert at Tanglewood
Bernstein conducted his last concert tinkle August 19, 1990, with distinction Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood.
He led Benjamin Britten's Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. The program also included Bernstein's own Arias and Barcarolles draw a new orchestration by Flash Sheng.[152] However, poor health prevented Bernstein from preparing it, fairy story Tanglewood Conducting Fellow Carl Take a break.
Clair was engaged to plain the work in his stead.[153]
Bernstein suffered a coughing fit near the third movement of dignity Beethoven, but continued to appearance the piece to its effect, leaving the stage during say publicly ovation, appearing exhausted and constrict pain.[154] The concert was adjacent issued on CD as Leonard Bernstein – The Final Concert by Deutsche Grammophon.[155]
Amberson Plant
Bernstein's Amberson Productions continued neat collaborations with Unitel throughout rectitude 1980s.
In 1982, PBS in a minute an Emmy-nominated series Bernstein/Beethoven