Who is Leonard Bernstein?
Leonard Bernstein was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. one of the most important conductors of his time, He was the first American-born conductor to receive international acclaim. Bernstein was “one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history”. He was also a composer of symphonies, ballets and hit musicals, a teacher, a television personality, and a complicated man with a complicated personal life. His nationally televised Young People’s Concerts not only helped introduce classical music to children, but also popularized it with their parents. Bernstein wrote in many genres, including symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music, and pieces for the piano.
Wiki/Overview
Full Name | Leonard Bernstein |
Nickname | Leonard/Lenny |
Profession | Conductor, composer, pianist, lecturer, author |
Known For | Being one of the most important figures in the history of American classical music. |
Date of Birth | August 25, 1918 |
Date of Death | October 14, 1990 |
Cause of Death | Heart Attack |
Age (as of 1990): | 72 |
Place of Birth: | Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States |
Mother: | Jennie Resnick |
Father: | Samuel Joseph Bernstein |
Spouse: | Felicia Montealegre |
Organization: | Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), Rashritrya Swayamsevak sangh |
Residence: | (Not Specified) |
Education: | Harvard University, Eliot House, Curtis Institute of Music |
Alma Mater: | (Not Specified) |
Hometown: | Gwalior |
Nationality: | American |
Religion: | Judaism |
Height: | 5’7″ |
Weight: | (Not Specified) |
Zodiac Sign: | (Not Specified) |
Early Life
Born Louis Bernstein in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Bernstein was the son of Jewish parents, Jennie (née Resnick) and Samuel Joseph Bernstein, both of whom immigrated to the United States from Rivne (now in Ukraine). Bernstein’s father was the owner of The Samuel Bernstein Hair and Beauty Supply Company. It held the New England franchise for the Frederick’s Permanent Wave Machine, the immense popularity of which helped Sam get his family through the Great Depression. Bernstein’s mother had moved to stay with her parents in Lawrence toward the end of her first pregnancy, and since he was sickly as an infant, he stayed there until he was strong enough to join his father in Boston. When he was 15, the family moved to nearby Newton, Massachusetts. In his Childhood his only exposure to music was the household radio and music on Friday nights at Congregation Mishkan Tefila in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
When Bernstein was ten years old, Samuel’s sister Clara deposited her upright piano at her brother’s house. Bernstein family would go to their vacation home in Sharon, Massachusetts, where young Leonard conscripted all the neighbourhood children to put on shows ranging from Bizet’s Carmen to Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. Leonard’s youngest sibling, Burton, was born in 1932, 13 years after Leonard. His father was initially opposed to young Leonard’s interest in music and attempted to discourage his son’s interest by refusing to pay for his piano lessons. Leonard started giving lecture to the younger kids near neighbourhood.
One of his students, Sid Ramin, became Bernstein’s most frequent orchestrator and lifelong beloved friend. Leonard attended his first orchestral concert with the Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by Arthur Fiedler. On March 30, 1932, Bernstein played Brahms’s Rhapsody in G minor at his first public piano performance in Susan Williams’s studio recital at the New England Conservatory. Two years later, he made his solo debut with orchestra in Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor with the Boston Public School Orchestra.
He was as the 10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999–2004.
Career
Soon after he left Curtis, Bernstein moved to New York City where he lived in various apartments in Manhattan. On April 21, 1942, Bernstein performed the premiere of his first published work, Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, with clarinettist David Glazer at the Institute of Modern Art in Boston. On November 14, 1943, having recently been appointed assistant conductor to Artur Rodziński of the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein made his major conducting debut at short notice—and without any rehearsal—after guest conductor Bruno Walter came down with the flu. on January 28, 1944, Bernstein conducted the premiere of his Symphony No. 1: Jeremiah with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with Jennie Tourel as soloist.
On the Town opened on Broadway’s Adelphi Theatre on December 28, 1944. The show resonated with audiences during World War II, and its broke race barriers on Broadway: Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato in a leading role; a multiracial cast dancing as mixed race couples; and a Black concertmaster, Everett Lee, who eventually took over as music director of the show. Bernstein conducted his last concert on August 19, 1990, with the 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 in a new orchestration by Bright Sheng.
Education
Bernstein attended the Boston Latin School. when he was 15, the family moved to nearby Newton, Massachusetts. Bernstein’s first two education environments were both public schools: the William Lloyd Garrison School, followed by the prestigious Boston Latin School, for which Bernstein and classmate Lawrence F. Ebb wrote the Class Song. In 1935, Bernstein enrolled at Harvard College, where he studied music with, among others, Edward Burlingame Hill, and Walter Piston. Bernstein’s first extant composition, Psalm 148, set for voice and piano, is dated 1935. He majored in music with a final year thesis titled “The Absorption of Race Elements into American Music”. After graduating from Harvard, Bernstein enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
Family & Affairs
Leonard Bernstein had two younger siblings, Shirley, and Burton. Bernstein had asthma, and the condition kept him from serving in the military during World War II. Bernstein married actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn on September 9, 1951.[160] They had three children, Jamie, Alexander, and Nina. The family owned a house in Redding, Connecticut, which they sold in 1964. Bernstein had affairs with both men and women. In April 1943 he sought advice from Aaron Copland about living as a gay man in the public eye. In a private letter written after their marriage, Felicia acknowledged her husband’s sexual orientation. Felicia was diagnosed with lung cancer in the year 1976. Bernstein continued to have relationships with men until his death on October 14, 1990.
Appearance
Leonard was a smart, Intelligent and Handsome 5’ 7” feet tall Man.
Money Factor
Net Worth: | N/A |
Salary / Income: | N/A |
Achievements
Over the course of his distinguished career, Bernstein has received two Tony Awards, 16 Grammy Awards as well as a nomination for an Academy Award, also seven Emmy Awards. He was member of both the American Theatre Hall of Fame and the Television Hall of Fame. He also inducted to the legacy walk in the year 2015.
Hobbies
Bernstein enjoyed skiing, playing tennis, and engaging in all manner of word games, especially cutthroat anagrams.
Trivia & Facts
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