Leonard Bernstein: American Original

Front Cover
Harper Collins, Nov 30, 2010 - Biography & Autobiography - 240 pages

One of the most gifted, celebrated, scrutinized, and criticized musicians in the second half of the twentieth century, Leonard Bernstein made his legendary conducting debut at the New York Philharmonic in 1943, at age 25. A year later, he became a sensation on Broadway with the premiere of On the Town. Throughout the 1950s, his Broadway fame only grew with Wonderful Town, Candide, and West Side Story. And in 1958, the Philharmonic appointed him the first American Music Director of a major symphony orchestra—a signal historical event. He was adored as a quintessential celebrity but one who could do it all—embracing both popular and classical music, a natural with the new medium of television, a born teacher, writer, and speaker, as well as a political and social activist. In 1976, having conducted the Philharmonic for more than one thousand concerts, he took his orchestra on tour to Europe for the last time.

All of this played out against the backdrop of post-Second World War New York City as it rose to become the cultural capital of the world—the center of wealth, entertainment, communications, and art—and continued through the chaotic and galvanizing movements of the 1960s that led to its precipitous decline by the mid 1970s.

The essays within this book do not simply retell the Bernstein story; instead, Leonard Bernstein's brother, Burton Bernstein, and current New York Philharmonic archivist and historian, Barbara B. Haws, have brought together a distinguished group of contributors to examine Leonard Bernstein's historic relationship with New York City and its celebrated orchestra. Composer John Adams, American historians Paul Boyer and Jonathan Rosenberg, music historians James Keller and Joseph Horowitz, conductor and radio commentator Bill McGlaughlin, musicologist Carol Oja, and music critics Tim Page and Alan Rich have written incisive essays, which are enhanced by personal reminiscences from Burton Bernstein. The result is a telling portrait of Leonard Bernstein, the musician and the man.

 

Contents

My New York 1943 to 1976 by Alan Rich
11
On the Town
16
Humanitarian and Social Activist by Paul Boyer
35
Paying the Price
54
Reflections of Their Time by Carol J
59
Easy Laughter of a Grand
76
Envisioning a Higher Purpose by Tim Page
85
The Maestros New Medium
92
Charismatic Teacher Consummate Performer
152
Intellect and Ecstasy by Bill McGlaughlin
157
Channeling a Prophet by James M Keller
173
Mahlers Muse Tempts Another
178
An American Voice by John Adams
193
Afterword by Burton Bernstein
207
Chronology
210
Contributors Bios
214

Leonard Bernsteins Separate Peace with Berlin by Burton Bernstein
102
An Idealist Abroad by Jonathan Rosenberg
117
A Quest for Meaning and Identity by Joseph Horowitz
135
Illustration Credits Acknowledgements
216
Index
218
Copyright

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About the author (2010)

Burton Bernstein, staff writer for the New Yorker from 1957 to 1992, is the author of eight books. Like his older brother, he is a Bostonian by birth and upbringing. A graduate of Dartmouth College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he holds a private pilot's license and was an astronaut candidate for the defunct Journalist in Space Project. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Jane, and their dog, Pulcinella. Barbara B. Haws has been the archivist and historian of the New York Philharmonic since 1984. Born and raised in Nebraska, Haws moved to New York City in 1977 and completed her graduate work in history at New York University. She has curated major historical exhibits on the Philharmonic and has served as executive producer of the Philharmonic's Special Editions record label. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Bill Josephson.

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