The Philosopher
Leonard Bernstein
The face
The background
- Nationality:
- American
- Period:
- 20th century
The synopsis
Leonard Bernstein (born Louis Bernstein; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first American-born conductor to receive international acclaim. Bernstein was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history" according to music critic Donal Henahan. Bernstein's honors include seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and 16 Grammy Awards. He received the Kennedy Center Honor in 1981. As a composer, Bernstein wrote in many genres, including symphonic music, ballet, film and theatre music, and choral works. His notable works include the musical West Side Story, three symphonies, Serenade (after Plato's Symposium), and the score for On the Waterfront. Bernstein was the first American-born conductor to lead a major American symphony orchestra and served as music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1958 to 1969. He also made significant contributions to music education through television broadcasts like Young People's Concerts. Bernstein was actively involved in social causes, supporting civil rights, protesting the Vietnam War, advocating for nuclear disarmament, and raising awareness for HIV/AIDS research.
The works
The quotes
Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.
Technique is communication: the two words are synonymous in conductors.
I'm not interested in having an orchestra sound like itself. I want it to sound like the composer.
The key to the mystery of a great artist is that for reasons unknown, he will give away his energies and his life just to make sure that one note follows another... and leaves us with the feeling that something is right in the world.
To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.
In the olden days, everybody sang. You were expected to sing as well as talk. It was a mark of the cultured man to sing.
A liberal is a man or a woman or a child who looks forward to a better day, a more tranquil night, and a bright, infinite future.
This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.