Leonard Bernstein Born Louis Bernstein ( 1918-08-25)August 25, 1918, U.S. Died October 14, 1990 ( 1990-10-14) (aged 72), New York, U.S. Occupation,,,, Years active 1940–1990 Spouse(s) ( m. 1951; d. 1978) Signature Leonard Bernstein (; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American,, author, music lecturer, and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the US to receive worldwide acclaim. According to music critic, he was 'one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history.'

It became known far beyond the classical music world when Oliver Stone used it in his 1986 movie Platoon about the Vietnam War, as a musical symbol of the homes. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story (1961). (In fact, choreography was an important element of West Side Story in both its stage and film versions.). Program notes by: Joseph & Elizabeth Kahn Wordpros@mindspring.com www.wordprosmusic.com. Read Program Notes. BERNSTEIN West Side Story, Symphonic Dances.

His fame derived from his long tenure as the music director of the, from his conducting of concerts with most of the world's leading orchestras, and from his music for,,,,,, his, and a range of other compositions, including three symphonies and many shorter chamber and solo works. Bernstein was the first conductor to give a series of television lectures on classical music, starting in 1954 and continuing until his death. He was a skilled pianist, often conducting piano concertos from the keyboard. As a composer he wrote in many styles encompassing symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and pieces for the piano. Many of his works are regularly performed around the world, although none has matched the tremendous popular and critical success of West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein and in rehearsal, ca.

1940–1949 After he left Curtis, Bernstein lived in New York. He shared an apartment with his friend and often accompanied Green, and in a comedy troupe called The Revuers who performed in. He took jobs with a music publisher, transcribing music or producing arrangements under the pseudonym Lenny Amber. (Bernstein in German = Amber in English.) In 1940, Bernstein began his study at the 's summer institute,, in the conducting class of the orchestra's conductor,. Bernstein's friendships with Copland (who was very close to Koussevitsky) and Mitropoulos were propitious in helping him gain a place in the class. Other students in the class included, who also became a lifelong friend. Koussevitsky perhaps did not teach Bernstein much basic conducting technique (which he had already developed under Reiner) but instead became a sort of father figure to him and was perhaps the major influence on Bernstein's emotional way of interpreting music.

Bernstein later became Koussevitzky's conducting assistant and would later dedicate his, to him. On November 14, 1943, having recently been appointed assistant conductor to of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, he made his major conducting debut at short notice—and without any rehearsal—after guest conductor came down with the flu. The program included works by,, and 's with soloist, solo cellist of the orchestra. Before the concert Bernstein briefly spoke to Bruno Walter, who discussed particular difficulties in the works he was to perform. The next day, The New York Times carried the story on their front page and their editorial remarked, 'It's a good American success story.

The warm, friendly triumph of it filled and spread far over the air waves.' He became instantly famous because the concert was nationally broadcast on, and afterwards Bernstein started to appear as a guest conductor with many U.S. From 1945 to 1947, Bernstein was the Music Director of the New York City Symphony, which had been founded the previous year by the conductor. The orchestra (with support from the Mayor) was aimed at a different audience than the New York Philharmonic, with more modern programs and cheaper tickets. Spintires Download. Also in regard to a different audience, in 1945 Bernstein discussed the possibility of acting in a film with —playing opposite her starring role as the composer's patron. In addition to becoming known as a conductor, Bernstein also emerged as a composer in the same period.

In January 1944 he conducted the premiere of his in Pittsburgh. His score to the ballet choreographed by opened in New York in April 1944 and this was later developed into the musical with lyrics by Comden and Green that opened on Broadway in December 1944. Bernstein at the piano, making annotations to a musical score Around the time he was appointed music director of the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein composed the music for two shows.