He was a Talmudic scholar destined to become a rabbi like Sam Bernstein was a Russian immigrant whose enthusiasm for America understandably wasįueled by a desire for success. To be named Sam) is blinded by business ambition, bullies and bickers constantly with his While Bernstein later claimed to love his father, a more accurate portrayal may haveĮmerged in his opera, Trouble in Tahiti, in which the protagonist (who just happens Well, someday the books will say, 'Leonard Bernstein had a father.'" Yorker in 1958: "Every genius had a handicap. No musician in the history of America touched so many people so deeply and in so manyīernstein's youth was unremarkable, largely due to the discouragement of his father.Įven in later years, Bernstein's father would not deny his role, admitting to the New Anyone whoĪttended a Bernstein concert left feeling the profound wonder not only of music but of Generation of Americans was drawn to great music through his television shows. Popularize the classics in a way that no previous musician had ever done. Greatest influence, though, was upon the public. On the podium, he makes me remember why I wanted to become a musician." Bernstein's In the words of one jaded veteran: "When he gets up I come to the end of Beethoven's Fifth, I'm a new man." I can get rid of all kinds of tensions and hostilities. "I can do things in the performance of music that if I did on an ordinary street Only that whatever he did was with his whole heart. Music is a total embrace." He claimed to have no more energy than anyone else, but The violinist Midori likened Bernstein's legacy to a garden filled with "seedsĬreated by his energy, planted by his love, still waiting to bloom." Perhapsīernstein's greatest testament is yet to be fully felt as new generations of musicians,Ĭharged with the ecstasy of Bernstein's passionate commitment, ensure the vitality ofīernstein's attitude toward music was one of unfettered and consummate love: "Life When he died, millions throughout the world felt a profound and In that sense, Leonardīernstein is immortal. Rather, theĭeceased endure by residing in the memories of those who survive. The Jewish tradition in which Bernstein lived, there is no material afterlife. And I think I can still do justice to themĪll." Time dubbed him "the Renaissance Man."īut tangible achievements and public accolades are not the only measure of a man.
#BERINSTEIN MUSITION FULL#
To keep on trying to be, in the full sense of that wonderful word, a musician. Toscanini did, studying and restudying the same fifty pieces of music. He once told the New York Times: "I don't want to spend my life, as He was not 72 but 288." Indeed, while America has produced many great pianists,Ĭomposers, conductors and teachers, Leonard Bernstein combined these talents to an Perpetually-youthful Bernstein was too young to die: "Lenny led four lives in one, so Reacting to the news, composer Ned Rorem dismissed the cliché that the Most accomplished pianists and our most famous native-born musician. Greatest conductor, our most influential teacher, one of our finest composers, one of our It was on that day that we lost, all at once, our For American classical music, "The Day the His early years, influences, big break, first RCA recordings, writing and teaching, compositions, conducting, Columbia recordings, DG recordings and final year.įor a version of this article without illustrations, please click here.įor rock, it was February 3, 1959. A celebration of the life and multiple careers of Leonard Bernstein –
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