Leonard Bernstein:
8 intriguing insights into the Maestro

Leonard Bernstein, the iconic maestro known for penning West Side Story, Candide and On the Town, was not merely a conductor and composer; he was a force of musical innovation and cultural influence.

His extraordinary career and personal life (particularly his relationship with wife Felicia Montealegre Cohn) is back in the zeitgeist thanks to the 2023 film Maestro, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

1. Bernstein's star rises: an unplanned performance

In 1943, Bernstein made an unplanned debut as a conductor for the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall, filling in for Guest Conductor Bruno Walter, who had fallen ill. This now legendary performance is depicted in the movie Maestro.

At just 25 years of age, he led the orchestra through a challenging program, including music by Schumann, Rózsa and Strauss, with little time to prepare. The performance was broadcast on radio, and the young conductor became an overnight sensation. He was even featured on the cover of the New York Times the day after the performance.

Fifteen years later, Bernstein would be appointed the Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, making him the first American-born conductor to lead a major American orchestra.

2. A composer emerges: early melodies

Bernstein started composing music while studying at Harvard University, learning to combine classical forms with modern rhythms and harmonies.

He completed his first symphony, 'Jeremiah', at 24, following the biblical story of the prophet of the same name. His composition won the New York Music Critics' Circle Award for the best American work, and Bernstein recorded the symphony three times over the course of his career.

3. Cross-genre and cross-artform collaborations

Unlike many other classical musicians of his generation, Bernstein embraced not only a wide range of genres, but other art forms. While his star as a conductor was on the rise, Bernstein was busy composing ballet (1944's Fancy Free), opera (1951's Trouble in Tahiti) and musicals (including On the Town, Wonderful Town, and a musical adaptation of Peter Pan).

One of his earlier works, Candide, followed Bernstein through his career. Described variously as an operetta or a musical (and eventually a "Broadway operetta") the work defies classification. It premiered on Broadway in 1956, but was revised several times. Bernstein worked on a version in the late 1980s that would be true to his original intentions.

His biggest hit for the stage — and arguably the defining work of his career — came with West Side Story, a collaboration with lyricist Stephen Sondheim, choreographer Jerome Robbins and writer Arthur Laurents. The score represents Bernstein's typically eclectic style, drawing on classical music, jazz and Latin forms like the cha-cha and mambo.

4. A Hollywood connection

Bernstein's musical talents extended beyond the concert hall and theatre stage to the silver screen. He composed scores for one of the defining films of the 1950s: the Marlon Brando-led On the Waterfront.

This was Bernstein's only score for a film not adapted from one of his earlier works, and it earned the composer an Academy Award nomination.

5. Embracing television: Bridging the gap with young audiences

In 1958, Bernstein embarked on a groundbreaking venture with the televised Young People's Concerts. Designed to introduce classical music to young audiences, these concerts became a cultural phenomenon, reaching millions of households across the United States. Bernstein's charismatic presence and insightful commentary made classical music accessible and engaging for a new generation of music enthusiasts.

The concerts ran for a remarkable 14 years, with Bernstein hosting 53 episodes. The concerts were a landmark in music education.

6. A conductor of diplomacy: uniting nations through music

During the Cold War era, Bernstein embarked on a historic journey as a cultural ambassador, using music as a means of diplomacy. In 1959, he led the New York Philharmonic on a tour of Europe, including two weeks in the Soviet Union. The tour included a concert at the Berlin Wall, symbolizing the power of music to transcend political divides. His efforts to bridge cultural gaps through music earned him international acclaim and reinforced his legacy as an ambassador of peace.

In 1989, just a few weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Bernstein returned to Berlin for a celebratory concert, including Beethoven's 9th symphony.

7. Family, love and identity

In 1951, Bernstein married Felicia Montealegre Cohn, a Chilean actress, with whom he shared a deep bond and had three children: Jamie, Alexander, and Nina. Their marriage, which is the focus of the 2023 film Maestro, endured challenges, including Bernstein's bisexuality, which he grappled with privately amidst societal stigma.

Despite personal struggles, the Bernsteins maintained a close-knit family unit, fostering an environment that nurtured creativity and intellectual curiosity. Felicia's unwavering support and understanding allowed Bernstein to navigate the complexities of his personal and professional life. Their relationship, though marked by trials, remained a cornerstone of Bernstein's life, shaping his music, his activism, and his enduring legacy as one of the 20th century's most influential musicians.

Candide

Sydney Opera House
20 February–14 March 2025