Leonard Bernstein (1) (1918–1990)
Author of Romeo and Juliet: West Side Story
For other authors named Leonard Bernstein, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Considered by many the greatest figure in American music, Leonard Bernstein was a charismatic and controversial conductor, a gifted teacher, an accomplished pianist, and a highly admired composer. As a teacher, Bernstein communicated his love for music, whether classical or popular, through his show more Young People's Concerts, many of which were televised. At the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, he taught many students who are now present-day conductors of American symphony orchestras. As a composer Bernstein is best known for his popular works, including the Broadway musicals West Side Story (1958), Candide (1956), and Wonderful Town; the film score for On the Waterfront ; and the ballet Fancy Free (1958). However, it was as a conductor with an exuberant, dynamic, and dramatic style that Bernstein captured the attention of the American public. Born to Russian-Jewish immigrants in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1918, Bernstein started taking piano lessons at the age of 10, using his own allowance to pay for the lessons. He continued his musical studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, in Philadelphia, where he quickly displayed his varied talents as a pupil of renowned conductor Fritz Reiner. At the age of 25, Bernstein became an overnight sensation when he substituted for an ailing conductor during a concert. In 1958, when he was named musical director of the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein became the first native-born American to head a symphony orchestra. His association with the New York Philharmonic lasted until 1969, when he resigned to concentrate on composing. Bernstein died in 1990. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Courtesy of the NYPL Digital Gallery (image use requires permission from the New York Public Library)
Series
Works by Leonard Bernstein
Copland: Bernstein Century - Appalachian Spring / Rodeo / Billy the Kid / Fanfare for the Common Man [audio recording] (1939) — Conductor — 32 copies
West Side Story Suite — Composer — 12 copies
Beethoven : Symphony no.9 in D minor, Op.125 'Choral' {Ode to freedom} [sound recording] (1990) — Conductor — 11 copies
Bernstein Century: Ravel: Boléro / Alborada del Gracioso / La Valse / Daphnis et Chloé - Suite No. 2 (1996) 10 copies
A Simple Song 10 copies
Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) 8 copies
Symph. Nr. 1 / Symph. Nr. 10 - Adagio (Arr.: Krenek; ed.: Otto Jokl) // NY Philh., Cleveland Orch., Mehta, Szell (1998) 7 copies
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini [New York Philharmonic] (1964) — Conductor — 7 copies
Leonard Bernstein: Symphonic Dances From West Side Story & Candide Overture / George Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue & An… (2010) — Composer — 7 copies
Copland : Appalachian Spring; Fanfare for the Common Man; El Salón México; Danzón Cubano (1942) 7 copies
One Hand, One Heart [sheet music] 7 copies
Bernstein Favorites: Orchestral Showpieces [Ravel ∙ Sibelius ∙ Liszt ∙ Smetana ∙ Mussorgsky ∙ Dukas] (1991) 6 copies
Candide Overture; Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; On The Waterfront Symphonic Suite; Fancy Free Ballet [CD] (1997) 6 copies
Choruses from The Lark by Jean Anouilh. For full chorus of mixed voices (or septett of solo voices) a cappella. Part I.… (1964) 6 copies
Copland: Billy the Kid / Rodeo / Appalachian Spring (CBS Masterworks) — Conductor — 6 copies
Candide 5 copies
The Bernstein Songbook 5 copies
White House Cantata 5 copies
On the Town: New Broadway Cast Recording — Composer — 4 copies
Gloria Tibi 4 copies
Symph. Nr. 3 (1941) / Symph. Nr 5. ("Symphony for Strings", 1943) / Symph. Nr. 8 (1962) // NY Phil., Bernstein (1997) 4 copies
Bernstein Century: Bernstein: Symphonies No. 1 - Jeremiah, & No. 2 - The Age of Anxiety (1999) 4 copies
West Side Story (medley) 4 copies
Glenn Gould Plays Bach: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 5 Bwv 1052-1056 & No. 7 Bwv 1058 [Sound recording] [1957-1969] (2012) 4 copies
Overture to "Candide" 4 copies
Bernstein's Greatest Hits (LP) 4 copies
Candide 3 copies
I Feel Pretty from "West Side Story" 3 copies
Bernstein Century: Dvořák : Piano concerto + Tchaikovsky : Piano concerto no.1 in B flat minor, Op.23 — Conductor — 3 copies
Bernstein Century: Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites, Norwegian Dance, March of Dwarfs/ Sibelius: Valse Triste, Swan of Tuonela,… (1998) 3 copies
America (from West Side Story) 3 copies
Ode to Freedom - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (Official Concert of the Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989) 3 copies
Bernstein ~ The Final Concert- Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 / Britten: Four Sea Interludes, from Peter Grimes (1992) 3 copies
Candide [programme book] 3 copies
West Side Story [programme book] 3 copies
Tonight from West side story [vocal score] : for three-part chorus of women's voices (2000) 3 copies
Beethoven : Symphony no.9 in D minor, Op.125 'Choral' {Ode to freedom} [video recording] — Conductor — 2 copies
West Side Story Vocal Sele Songs 2 copies
Orchestral Anthology Volume 1: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story / Three Dance Episodes from On the Town (1998) 2 copies
The Joy of Christmas 2 copies
Bernstein: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 2 copies
American Masters: Harris / Thompson / Diamond (Bernstein Century) (1998) Audio CD (1969) — Conductor — 2 copies
West Side Story: National Symphony Orchestra / Leicester Haymarket Theatre Cast [audio recording] — Composer — 2 copies
Musikglæde 2 copies
Bernstein Conducts Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring / Petrouchka / Scenes de ballet / The Firebird Suite / Symphony in 3… (1995) 2 copies
Bernstein Century Modern Masters 2 copies
Mad About Tenors 2 copies
Bernstein's America 2 copies
Essential Bernstein 2 copies
Bernstein Century: Mendelssohn: Athalie, Op.74 : War march of the priests + Hebrides overture, Op.26 + Symphony no.4 in… (2000) 2 copies
Bernstein Century: Beethoven : King Stephen, Op.117 : Overture + Symphony no.6 in F major, Op.68 'Pastoral' + Symphony… (1998) — Conductor — 2 copies
On the town 2 copies
O Mundo da Música 2 copies
La bonne cuisine : four recipes 2 copies
West Side Story Flute BK/CD Instrumental Play-Along (Hal Leonard Instrumental Play-Along) (2011) 2 copies
Crown of India, Op.66 : 4b March of the Mogul emperors + Pomp and circumstance marches, Op.39 : No.1 in D major,… (2015) — Artist, some editions — 2 copies
Ohio (from Wonderful Town) 2 copies
Music of Leonard Bernstein 2 copies
West Side Story Selection 2 copies
Five anniversaries : for the piano 2 copies
We Are Women (from Candide) 2 copies
Bernstein: Suite from Candide, Five Songs, Three Meditations from Mass, Divertimento (1999) 2 copies
Gee, Officer Krupke 2 copies
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 4, 5 & 6; 1812 Overture; Romeo & Juliet; Francesca da Rimini ~ Bernstein (2007) 2 copies
West Side Story Candide 1 copy
Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, Symphony No. 4 in A Major Italian, War March of the Priests 1 copy
The Unanswered Question 3 1 copy
Candide (Playbill) [Vol 12] 1 copy
Copland & Bernstein 1 copy
Bernstein Conducts Bernstein: Divertimento / Halil / On the Town / Three Meditations from "Mass" — Composer — 1 copy
New York 1 copy
Panorama : Gustav Mahler 1 copy
Chichester Psalms 1 copy
Seven anniversaries 1 copy
Mambo from West Side Story 1 copy
Berlioz;Harold in Italy 1 copy
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier 1 copy
Trouble in Tahiti; Facsimile 1 copy
Handel : Messiah 1 copy
Leonard Bernstein for Oboe 1 copy
Beethoven : Fidelio 1 copy
Bernstein : Candide : Overture + Franck : Symphonic variations + Holst : The planets [sound recording] — Composer — 1 copy
BBC Proms 2007 : Prom 48 : Simon Bolivar National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela [video recording] (2007) — Composer — 1 copy
Musikens oändliga rikedom 1 copy
Una vita per la musica 1 copy
Bernstein Century: Debussy: Games + Nocturnes + Prelude to the afternoon of a faun — Conductor — 1 copy
Candide - Parts (RENTAL) 1 copy
Maestro, by Leonard Berstein 1 copy
Candide - Selections 1 copy
Berstein for Trumpet 1 copy
West Side 1 copy
Americana — Composer — 1 copy
Kaddish Symphony No. 3 1 copy
The world's greatest marches 1 copy
El encanto de la musica 1 copy
Bernstein: A Quiet Place 1 copy
Bernstein: Symphonies Nos. 1- Jeremiah, 2- Age of Anxiety, & 3- Kaddish / Serenade (after Plato) 1 copy
Symphony no. 5 1 copy
Swan Lake ballet suite 1 copy
Bernstein for oboe and piano 1 copy
Copland: Bill the Kid/ Rodeo 1 copy
The Lark 1 copy
Bernstein Dances 1 copy
The Joy of Bernstein 1 copy
Bernstein Live! sampler 1 copy
Symphony No.3 Kaddish 1 copy
Marches 1 copy
Judaica 1 copy
Milestones Of A Legend 1 copy
It Must Be So (from Candide) 1 copy
Danzon from "Fancy Free" 1 copy
Concert of the century : celebrating the 85th anniversary of Carnegie Hall (1891-1976) (1991) 1 copy
Yigdal 1 copy
Bernstein on Guitar 1 copy
Bernstein : Chichester Psalms + Missa Brevis + Walton : Belshazzar's feast [sound recording] (1989) — Composer — 1 copy
Giocare con la musica 1 copy
I Wish It So 1 copy
The Sound Of Genius: An Invitation To Great Listening Fall 1966 (Columbia Masterworks Promo Sampler) 1 copy
Nachspiel 1 copy
So Pretty 1 copy
Rabbit at top Speed 1 copy
Dream with Me 1 copy
Voice of Bernstein 1 copy
My first orchestra album 1 copy
Swing from "Wonderful Town" 1 copy
Hashkiveinu 1 copy
World Star Festival 1 copy
2001: a space odyssey LP 1 copy
An American Salute 1 copy
Simple Song 1 copy
Mass : at the Vatican City 1 copy
Fancy Free/ On the Town [CD] 1 copy
Clarinet Sonata 1 copy
Concierto para piano n. 15 en si bemol mayor, K. 450 ; Sinfonía n. 36 en do mayor, K. 425 : "Linz" 1 copy
West Side Story. Selection for descant recorder(s) (or flute/oboe/violin) and piano with voice and guitar optional ...… (1969) 1 copy
Leonard Bernstein: Symphony No. 2 "The Age of Anxiety" / Lukas Foss, Piano; Leonard Bernstein, Israel Philharmonic… (1978) 1 copy
A Little Bit in Love (from Wonderful Town) — Composer — 1 copy
Associated Works
This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women (2006) — Contributor — 1,090 copies
Beethoven : Symphony no.9 in D minor, Op.125 [sound recording] (1824) — Conductor, some editions — 434 copies
Tchaikovsky : Symphony no.6 in B minor, Op.74 [sound recording] (1953) — Conductor, some editions — 137 copies
An American in Paris + Rhapsody in Blue [sound recording] (1966) — Conductor, some editions — 92 copies
West Side Story [2021 film] — Composer — 63 copies
Night on Bald Mountain; Pictures at an exhibition [sound recording] (1972) — Conductor, some editions — 59 copies
Shostakovich : Symphony no.5 in D minor, Op.47 [sound recording] (1962) — Conductor, some editions — 56 copies
Des Knaben Wunderhorn : version for voice and orchestra (sound recording) (2000) — Conductor, some editions — 50 copies
Beethoven : Symphony no.5 in C minor, Op.67 [sound recording] (1962) — Conductor, some editions — 34 copies
Beethoven : Symphony no.1 in C major, Op.21 + Symphony no.3 in E flat major, Op.55 'Eroica' [sound recording] (1989) — Conductor, some editions — 32 copies
Beethoven : Symphony no.6 in F major, Op.68 'Pastoral' + Symphony no.8 in F major, Op.93 [sound recording] (1994) — Conductor, some editions — 28 copies
Shostakovich : Symphony no.5 in D minor, Op.47 + Symphony no.9 in E-flat major, Op.70 [sound recording] (1993) — Conductor, some editions — 28 copies
Mozart : Symphony no.39 in E flat major, K543 + Symphony no.40 in G minor, K550 [sound recording] (1983) — Conductor, some editions — 17 copies
Copland : Symphony no.3 + Quiet city [sound recording] (1990) — Conductor, some editions — 16 copies
Prokofiev : Violin concerto no.1 in D major, Op.19 + Violin concerto no.2 in G minor, Op.63 [sound recording] (1996) — Conductor, some editions — 16 copies
Mozart : Symphony no.39 in E flat major, K543 + Symphony no.41 in C major, K 551 'Jupiter' [sound recording] (1958) — Conductor, some editions — 15 copies
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf / Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals [sound recording] (1990) — Conductor, some editions — 13 copies
Beethoven : Symphony no.2 in D major, Op.36 + Symphony no.7 in A major, Op.92 [sound recording] (1987) — Conductor, some editions — 13 copies
Greatest Hits--Grieg (CD) — Conductor, some editions — 8 copies
Shostakovich : Cello concerto no.1 in E-flat major, Op.107 + Symphony no.5 in D minor, Op.47 [sound recording] (2006) — Conductor, some editions — 7 copies
Shostakovich : Symphony no.1 in F minor, Op.10 + Symphony no.7 in C major, Op.60 'Leningrad' [sound recording] (2001) — Conductor, some editions — 7 copies
Sibelius : Symphony no.1 in E minor, Op.39 + Symphony no.5 in E-flat major, Op.82 [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 6 copies
Shostakovich : Cello concerto no.1 in E flat major, Op.107 + Symphony no.1 in F major, Op.10 [sound recording] (1983) — Conductor, some editions — 6 copies
Fidelio : Overture {Leonore no.3}, Op.72a + Symphony no.5 in C minor, Op.67 [sound recording] (1983) — Conductor, some editions — 5 copies
Images for orchestra + Prelude to the afternoon of a faun + The sea [sound recording] (1991) — Conductor, some editions — 4 copies
Mussorgsky : Pictures at an exhibition {orch. Ravel} + Rimsky-Korsakov : Capriccio Espagnol, Op.34 [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 4 copies
Sibelius : Pohjola's daughter, Op.49 + Symphony no.5 in E-flat major, Op.82 [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 4 copies
Mozart : Symphony no.25 + 29 + 35 + 36 + 38 + Symphony no.39 in E flat major, K543 + 40 +41 [sound recording] (2013) — Conductor, some editions — 3 copies
Holst : The planets + Walton : Facade [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 3 copies
Chopin : Piano concerto no.1 in E minor, Op.11 + Liszt : Piano concerto no.1 in E-flat major, S.124 [sound recording] (1990) — Conductor, some editions — 3 copies
Shostakovich : Piano Concerto no.2 + Symphony no.5 in D minor, Op.47 [sound recording] (1997) — Conductor, some editions — 3 copies
Bernstein Century: Holst : The planets + Elgar : Pomp and circumstance marches : March no.1 in D [sound recording] (1997) — Conductor, some editions — 3 copies
Fantasia on 'Greensleeves' + Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis + Serenade to music + Symphony no.4 in F minor [sound… (1993) — Performer, some editions — 3 copies
Beethoven : Calm sea and prosperous voyage, Op.112 + Cantata on the death of Emperor Joseph II, WoO87 + Choral fantasy… (1997) — Conductor, some editions — 3 copies
Sibelius : Symphony no.1 in E minor, Op.39 [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 2 copies
Bernstein Century: Mozart : Marriage of Figaro : Overture + Symphony no.39 in E flat major, K543 + Symphony no.41… — Conductor, some editions — 2 copies
Hebrides overture, Op.26 + A midsummer night's dream + Symphony No.4 'Italian' + Violin concerto [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 2 copies
Beethoven : Consecration of the house, Op.124 : Overture + Egmont, Op.84 : Overture + Fidelio : Leonore overture no.2,… (2002) — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
In Person — Songwriter — 1 copy
The World's Greatest Classics, Vol. 1 — Composer — 1 copy
The World's Greatest Classics — Composer — 1 copy
Sibelius : Symphony no.1 in E minor, op.39 + Symphony no.2 in D major, op.43 + 5 + 7 [sound recording] (2011) — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
Stravinsky : Firebird suite + Tchaikovsky : Romeo and Juliet : overture-fantasy [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
Barber : Toccata Festiva, op.36 + Poulenc : Organ concerto, FP93 + Strauss : Festival prelude, op.61 [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
Sibelius : Symphony no.1 in E minor, op.39 + Symphony no.2 in D major, op.43 + 5 + 7 [video recording] (2010) — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
The Golden Glow of Christmas [1972 Sound Recording Album] (1972) — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
Barber : Adagio for strings + Bernstein : On the town : Three dance episodes : Lonely town : Pas de deux + Cage : Dream… — Composer — 1 copy
Sibelius : Luonnotar, Op.70 + Symphony no.1 in E minor, Op.39 [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
Liszt : Piano concerto no.1 in E-flat major, S.124 + Symphonic poems : Les préludes, S.97 [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
Ruy Blas overture + Symphony no.3 in A minor, Op.56 'Scottish' + Symphony no.5 in D major/D minor, Op.107 'Reformation'… — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
Wagner : Tristan and Isolde : Acts 2 & 3 {excerpts} [sound recording] — Conductor, some editions — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Bernstein, Leonard
- Birthdate
- 1918-08-25
- Date of death
- 1990-10-14
- Burial location
- Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA
- Place of death
- New York, New York, USA
- Cause of death
- heart attack
- Places of residence
- Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA
New York, New York, USA - Education
- Harvard College (BA|1939)
Curtis Institute of Music - Occupations
- conductor
composer
pianist
teacher - Relationships
- Bernstein, Burton (brother)
Ramin, Sid (colleague)
Montealegre, Felicia (wife) - Organizations
- New York Philharmonic Orchestra
- Awards and honors
- Kennedy Center Honors (1980)
Praemium Imperiale (1990)
Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1951)
Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur (1986)
Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (1989)
Members
Discussions
Leonard Bernstein in Legacy Libraries (April 2018)
The Rest is Noise #1 in Le Salon Littéraire du Peuple pour le Peuple (June 2012)
Reviews
Lists
Movies/Shows (1)
Awards
Bernstein : Chichester Psalms + Missa Brevis + Walton : Belshazzar's feast [sound recording] (Winner – Best Choral Performance – 1991)
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 484
- Also by
- 77
- Members
- 3,604
- Popularity
- #7,026
- Rating
- 4.1
- Reviews
- 43
- ISBNs
- 213
- Languages
- 10
Tracklist
A1 Orchestra*, The Jets*– Prologue And Jet Song
A2 Larry Kert– Something's Coming
A3 Orchestra*, Ensemble*– The Dance At The Gym
A4 Larry Kert– Maria
A5 Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence– Tonight
A6 Chita Rivera, Marilyn Cooper, Reri Grist And Shark Girls*– America
A7 Mickey Calin* And The Jets*– Cool
A8 Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence– One Hand, One Heart
B1 Ensemble*, Quintet*– Tonight
B2 Orchestra*– The Rumble
B3 Carol Lawrence, Marilyn Cooper, Carmen Gutierrez, Elizabeth Taylor (3)– I Feel Pretty
B4 Reri Grist & Ensemble*– Somewhere (Ballet)
B5 Eddie Roll, Grover Dale And The Jets*– Gee, Officer Krupke!
B6 Carol Lawrence And Chita Rivera– A Boy Like That / I Have A Love
B7 Unknown Artist– Finale… (more)