Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American composer, conductor, 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 Donal Henahan, he was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history."

His fame derived from his long tenure as the music director of the New York Philharmonic, from his conducting of concerts with most of the world's leading orchestras, and from his music for West Side Story, Peter Pan, Candide, Wonderful Town, On the Town, On the Waterfront, his Mass, 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. He was also a critical figure in the modern revival of the music of Gustav Mahler, the composer he was most passionately interested in.

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.
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Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American composer, conductor, 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 Donal Henahan, he was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history."

His fame derived from his long tenure as the music director of the New York Philharmo...
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4 albums
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SCHUMANN Manfred Overture
RÓZSA Theme, Variations and Finale
R. STRAUSS Don Quixote

Live broadcast concert, 1943
Total duration:  74:26

Joseph Schuster, cello
William Lincer,
viola
Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York
conducted by Leonard Bernstein

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BERNSTEIN Symphony No. 2, 'The Age of Anxiety'
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9
HANSON Serenade for Flute, Harp & Strings

Live broadcast recordings, 1946/49
Total duration: 69:57

Leonard Bernstein, piano
Boston Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Serge Koussevitzky

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BLITZSTEIN Airborne Symphony
GILLIS Motor Perpetuo
RAVEL Piano Concerto in G

Live broadcast performances, 1946
Total duration: 74:20

Charles Holland, tenor
Walter Scheff,
baritone
Marc Blitzstein,
The Monitor (narrator)
Leonard Bernstein,
piano

NBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
conducted by Leonard Bernstein

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LISZT A Faust Symphony
Recorded in stereo in New York, 1960
Total duration: 71:38 

Charles Bressler,
tenor
The Choral Art Society, director William Johnson
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Leonard Bernstein,
conductor