PEOPLE IN AMERICA - Leonard Bernstein: Composer, Conductor,

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PEOPLE IN AMERICA - Leonard Bernstein: Composer, Conductor, Pianist and Teacher
By Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: Sunday, August 07, 2005

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ANNCR: Welcome to People in America in VOA Special English. Today, Rich Kleinfeldt and Sarah Long tell about the life and work of one of the most influential¹ musicians of the twentieth century -- Leonard Bernstein.

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This music was written by Leonard Bernstein. He composed it for the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in nineteen seventy-one.

VOICE TWO:

Leonard Bernstein lived from nineteen-eighteen until nineteen-ninety. During his seventy-two years he was one of America's most hard-working musicians. He was a composer, conductor, pianist and teacher.

He wrote both serious classical music and light popular music. He was musical director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra² for more than ten years. He often played the piano while leading an orchestra at the same time. He taught many other musicians. And, he appeared on television programs and wrote books to help people -- especially children -- learn about music.

VOICE ONE:

Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on August twenty-fifth, nineteen-eighteen. His parents were Jews from Russia. They met and married in the United States. Leonard demonstrated⁴ early in life that he had special abilities in music. His father, however, did not believe his son could support himself as a musician. The older Bernstein continually⁵ advised against it.

Luckily, his son rejected this advice. Leonard studied music at Harvard University and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent summers at a famous music center in Massachusetts called Tanglewood. There he studied conducting with two major musicians of our time -- Serge Koussevitsky and Fritz Reiner. Later Leonard Bernstein would return to Tanglewood to teach almost every summer of his life.

VOICE TWO:

In nineteen forty-three, Leonard Bernstein became assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In November of that year, New York Philharmonic conductor Bruno Walter became sick could not conduct an important concert.

Mister⁶ Bernstein was called to lead the orchestra very soon before the event. He had little time to prepare. Still, he did so well that the New York Times newspaper published a story praising his effort. The story appeared on the front page the day after the concert.

After that, Leonard Bernstein was invited to conduct concerts of almost every major American orchestra. In nineteen fifty-eight, he became musical director of the New York Philharmonic. He was the first American to hold that position. Critics said the well-known orchestra became even better under his leadership. He was the main conductor of the Philharmonic until he resigned in nineteen-sixty-seven.

VOICE ONE:

Leonard Bernstein became involved in many more projects after leaving the New York Philharmonic. People said he was like a powerful ocean storm. He seemed to live his whole life in a hurry.

Mister Bernstein traveled around the world to act as guest conductor of many orchestras⁷. He wrote music and taught music. At home, he and his wife, Chilean actress Felicia Montealegre, were raising their three children. Their home was a gathering⁸ place for some of the most influential artists, musicians and writers in the United States.

VOICE TWO:

As the years passed, Leonard Bernstein's many musical skills made him known around the world. He won high praise as a pianist. Listen now as he plays "Piano Sonata⁹" by his friend Aaron Copland.

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VOICE ONE:

Critics say Bernstein wrote some of his best work in his early years. He wrote "Symphony¹⁰ Number Two, the Age of Anxiety" in nineteen forty-nine when he was about thirty. Musical experts say the piece captures¹¹ the sounds of America.

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VOICE TWO:

That piece was among several large works¹² Leonard Bernstein wrote for symphony orchestras over the years. He composed several symphonies¹³ that demonstrate³ his deep interest in his Jewish¹⁴ religion.

Mister Bernstein wrote other major classical works through the years for a large group of singers and an orchestra. He also composed operas and ballet music.

Many people think these classical works are not as great as some of his musical plays for Broadway such as "On the Town," "Wonderful Town" and "Candide." Some music critics say "Candide" is the best music Leonard Bernstein ever wrote.

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VOICE ONE:

The musical, "West Side Story," is considered Leonard Bernstein's most famous work. It opened on Broadway in New York City in nineteen fifty-seven. It still is being performed all over the world. The show tells a story similar to "Romeo and Juliet," the famous play by William Shakespeare. Stephen Sondheim wrote the words to the Bernstein music.

"West Side Story" guaranteed Leonard Bernstein a special place in American musical theater. Here tenor¹⁵ Larry Kert sings "Maria," one of the most beautiful songs from "West Side Story."

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VOICE TWO:

Leonard Bernstein worked for three years on "Mass, A Theater Piece for Singers Players and Dancers" to be performed at the Kennedy Center opening. Two-hundred people are in this huge work. Its name comes from the religious service of the Roman

Catholic¹⁶ Church. The story tells of a young man who loses his belief in God. "Mass" is the closest Mister Bernstein ever came to joining the styles of Broadway and classical music. It contains rock music, blues¹⁷ music, and religious music.

VOICE ONE:

Throughout his life, Leonard Bernstein was involved with social issues as well as music. He supported the civil rights movement and opposed the Vietnam War. He conducted concerts to raise money for AIDS research.

In his later years, he wanted to write something that he knew would be remembered always. But he was in poor health. Still, he kept composing, directing and speaking. He gave his last performance in August, nineteen ninety, at Tanglewood. Less than

two months later, he died in his New York home. He will be remembered always for his many musical gifts to the world.

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ANNCR: This Special English program was written by Jeri Watson. It was produced by Paul Thompson. The announcers¹⁸ were Rich Kleinfeldt and Sarah Long. I'm Barbara Klein. Listen again next week for People in America in VOA Special English.